Analysis of child vulnerability in the digital sphere: the case study of European Schoolnet

openFor many years, children and young people have been identified as a vulnerable demographic group in conventions related to children’s rights and development. However, although the Convention on the Rights of the Child protects protects their rights, it was not until recently that the concept of child vulnerability had been properly defined. Since then, there has been a growing awareness and a call for action from international organisations to write reports and conduct consultations with children and young people to better understand their needs. More recently, child vulnerability specifically on the digital sphere has become a growing focus of research due to the omnipresent technology in children’s lives. Therefore, this thesis focuses on child vulnerability in the digital sphere illustrated by the work of the non-governmental organisation European Schoolnet and its Safer Internet Centres. The thesis starts by discussing the concept of child vulnerability and how all children and young people are vulnerable. It then focuses on the digital sphere, the rights, and risks of different vulnerable groups online as well as the importance of using an intersectional approach when addressing such issues. Thanks to a survey sent out to twenty nine European Safer Internet Centres, the final section allows to illustrate the research by good practice examples of initiatives addressed at children across Europe. The latter allows to suggest recommendations for improving the capacity of international organisations and States to protect vulnerable children and young people as well as for a greater sharing of learning and good practice between stakeholders.For many years, children and young people have been identified as a vulnerable demographic group in conventions related to children’s rights and development. However, although the Convention on the Rights of the Child protects protects their rights, it was not until recently that the concept of child vulnerability had been properly defined. Since then, there has been a growing awareness and a call for action from international organisations to write reports and conduct consultations with children and young people to better understand their needs. More recently, child vulnerability specifically on the digital sphere has become a growing focus of research due to the omnipresent technology in children’s lives. Therefore, this thesis focuses on child vulnerability in the digital sphere illustrated by the work of the non-governmental organisation European Schoolnet and its Safer Internet Centres. The thesis starts by discussing the concept of child vulnerability and how all children and young people are vulnerable. It then focuses on the digital sphere, the rights, and risks of different vulnerable groups online as well as the importance of using an intersectional approach when addressing such issues. Thanks to a survey sent out to twenty nine European Safer Internet Centres, the final section allows to illustrate the research by good practice examples of initiatives addressed at children across Europe. The latter allows to suggest recommendations for improving the capacity of international organisations and States to protect vulnerable children and young people as well as for a greater sharing of learning and good practice between stakeholders