Safeguarding Children Online

What if one-third of the world’s internet users are actually children—children whose data is being harvested, who are being exposed to manipulation, and whose classrooms are now testing grounds for unproven tech? In this eye-opening episode of the Tech Humanist Show, host Kate O’Neill sits down with Leanda Barrington-Leach, a leading advocate and spokesperson for children’s rights in the digital realm through the UK-based 5Rights Foundation. Together, they pull back the curtain on how today’s digital landscape—shaped by “persuasive design,” addictive algorithms, and fast-moving unregulated technology—creates unique and urgent risks for young people online. Leanda issues a wake-up call: Children are not only the first adopters of major tech platforms, but they’re vulnerable to designs that keep them glued to screens, expose them to inappropriate content, and exploit their personal data. The conversation covers how these challenges have evolved with the introduction of generative AI in the classroom, why traditional regulation hasn’t kept pace, and the surprising lack of evidence for EdTech’s positive impact on learning. Topics Covered:The Mission and Work of the 5Rights FoundationPersuasive Design and Children’s VulnerabilityEvolving Risks and Challenges for Children OnlineThe State of Educational Technology (EdTech)The Role and Promise of Generative AI in EducationRegulation Versus Industry Self-RegulationChildren’s Participation and Voices in PolicyAdvice and Support for Parents, Educators, and PolicymakersAwareness Campaigns: The Twisted Toys InitiativeOptimism and Concerns for the Future Connect with Leanda Barrington-LeachLinkedIn: Leanda Barrington-LeachWebsite: 5Rights Foundation Episode Chapters 00:00 Persuasive Design Patterns Explained05:44 Children’s Online Vulnerability Crisis09:29 Unproven Educational Tech Risks13:35 Flawed AI Reading System Unveiled15:50 Digital Tech Requires Regulation19:16 “Policy Framework and Self-Regulation Required”21:52 Balancing Parental Control and Privacy26:33 Parents Demand Action Against Tech Giants31:11 “Twisted Toys: Digital Dangers Exposed”36:18 “Age-Appropriate Design Code Advocacy”37:08 Advocate: Educate, Complain, Influence