Tech This Out!

It started with half a sentence in a policy document. It grew into landmark legislation that changed the internet for millions of children. In the Season 1 finale of Tech This Out!, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Nidhi sits down with Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, former African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, and Baroness Beeban Kidron, member of the UK House of Lords and Founder of 5Rights Foundation to look back on years of advocacy, hard-won progress, and what comes next.   From the Age-Appropriate Design Code in the UK to the African Union Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy, real change has been madeWhat did it take to move governments, institutions, and industry? And with AI evolving faster than any regulation can keep up, what happens next?   Together, they reflect on the breakthroughs and the battles, share what they've learned from young people, and make the case that protecting children online isn’t a niche cause – it’s the defining issue of our time.   This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the pioneering global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work.

Something surprising is happening in the world’s most expensive schools and it has nothing to do with technology. In this episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Mithesh sits down with Mark West from UNESCO to challenge what we think we know about tech in schools and ask whether EdTech is living up to its promises or leaving students behind. Together, they unpack why human connection can’t be coded and what it would take to design a digital future for schools that actually puts children and young people first.     This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the pioneering global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work. 

When students sit an exam remotely or even buy a candy bar at a vending machine during a break, their information is collected, tracked and often used in ways they never agreed to. In this episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Maximilian sits down with Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (Canada), to uncover what really happens to student data behind the scenes. Together, they explore how EdTech companies profit from children’s information, the deceptive design practices that make it hard to say no and how regulators and schools can take the next step to protect student privacy.     This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the pioneering global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work.    Ready to learn more about student privacy? Find below the resources and tools mentioned in the episode:  In the forthcoming 2025 Global Privacy Enforcement Network sweep, more than 30 data protection agencies from around the world examined websites and apps commonly used by young people. The IPC focused specifically on EdTech products and their privacy settings.  In the joint resolution on EdTech, Canada’s privacy regulators call for strong protection of children’s privacy in the development and use of educational technologies.  Identifying and mitigating harms from privacy-related deceptive design patterns is a joint resolution issued by privacy regulators from across Canada calling for action on the growing use of deceptive design patterns.  The PowerSchool Investigation Report includes the findings of the investigations into the privacy breach involving PowerSchool, a tool used by schools in Ontario and Alberta.  The Youth Ambassador Toolkit offers children and young people knowledge and resources about the importance of privacy and privacy rights.   The Privacy Pursuit! Lesson Plans are for educators teaching students about the importance of privacy and how to protect it online.   For even more guidance for children, students, educators and parents, including the Info Matters podcast, please visit the IPC website.  

From the classroom to government services, artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping how children learn, play, and grow but who gets to decide how? In this final episode of our AI trilogy, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Skye interviews UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies Amandeep Singh Gill to explore the urgent need for global AI governance that puts children’s rights first. Together, they unpack why most national AI strategies barely consider children’s rights and needs, how tech companies can be held accountable across borders and why the voices of children from the Global South must be central to shaping AI’s future. Discover what it really takes to ensure AI serves all children and not just the privileged few.  This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech.  Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://5rightsfoundation.com/ 

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses issues of mental health and loneliness. If you are affected by any of these issues, please seek support from a trusted adult or licensed professional. Here is a list of child-friendly helplines: https://childhelplineinternational.org/helplines/  From homework helper to creative companion, AI is already woven into young people's daily lives in ways we're only beginning to understand. But as this powerful technology becomes invisible and everywhere, what does it mean for how children learn, create, and connect? In this month's episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Aisling sits down with Dr. Jun Zhao from Oxford University's Child-Centred AI Design Lab to explore both the promise and the pitfalls of growing up with artificial intelligence. Together, they examine the concerning risks of over-reliance, manipulation, and surveillance that children face in our data-driven world—while also exploring how AI can spark creativity and support learning when used thoughtfully.  This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech.  Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://5rightsfoundation.com/ 

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses issues of mental health, loneliness and eating disorders. If you are affected by any of these issues, please seek support from a trusted adult or licensed professional. Here is a list of child-friendly helplines: https://childhelplineinternational.org/helplines/   AI chatbots promise 24/7 support without judgement – but can they ever truly replace a friend or a therapist? In this month’s episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador, Ali, sits down with Mie Oehlenschläger - a member of the Danish Council on Ethics and President of 5Rights - EU – to unpack the design and data choices behind AI chatbots. Together, they explore why chatbots feel so real, the hidden risks on children’s mental health and privacy, and practical questions young people can ask themselves before interacting with a chatbot.  This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech.  Visit our website to learn more: 5rightsfoundation.com 

In Part 2 of our conversation with Prof. Shoshana Zuboff, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Srishti explores the deeper dangers of surveillance capitalism. From the loss of privacy to growing threats to democracy, we unpack how children and young people are caught in a system designed to track, manipulate and control.  What’s the way forward? Tune in for advice on reclaiming agency in the digital world.  This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech.  Visit our website to learn more: 5rightsfoundation.com 

Every click, search, and scroll—who’s tracking it, and why? In this episode, 5Rights Youth Ambassador Srishti speaks with Prof. Shoshana Zuboff, author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, to uncover how tech companies like Google and Meta harvest young people’s data, manipulate our behaviour, and turn childhood into a marketplace.  This is Part 1 of Srishti’s conversation with Prof. Zuboff — stay tuned for more in the next episode.    This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work: 5rightsfoundation.com 

From the risks of persuasive design to rethinking phone bans in schools, Tech This Out! has taken listeners on a thought-provoking journey through the digital world in 2024. In this special episode, our host Haydn reflects on the podcast's biggest moments, revisiting powerful insights from world-leading guests like Baroness Beeban Kidron, campaigner Zamaan Qureshi, and Professor Sonia Livingstone.   Relive the highlights, explore key takeaways, and get ready for more gripping youth-led conversations in 2025! This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work: 5rightsfoundation.com

Are phone bans in schools the solution to better focus, mental health, and learning—or are they a quick fix limiting children’s digital growth? 5Rights Youth Ambassador from the UK, Jessica, sits down with Professor Sonia Livingstone from the London School of Economics to dig into what it means to balance online safety with digital literacy and why consulting young people in these decisions is the key to a smarter approach.    This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech .   Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://5rightsfoundation.com/ 

In a world where tech is designed to endlessly capture our focus, how do we manage the time we spend online? In this month’s episode, 5Rights Junior Youth Ambassador, Matheo, sits down with Baroness Beeban Kidron to talk about the addictive nature of tech and how it’s impacting friendships, school and play. Together, they explore why so many apps and games are hard to put down and how young people can push back against the pressure to stay constantly connected.    This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech.   Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://5rightsfoundation.com/ 

Tech is now a constant in children’s lives but as mental health concerns rise, how can we create a safer digital world? And who should be leading the charge? In this month’s episode, activist Haydn is joined by Zamaan Qureshi, Co-Chair of the Design It For Us coalition, to dig into the critical role of tech companies and government in designing platforms and services that uplift, not undermine, young minds.    This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech.   Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://5rightsfoundation.com/  

Tech connects us with family and friends, entertains us and opens up a world of possibilities. It also comes with serious risks, especially for young people. In this month’s episode, author and youth advocate Nidhi chats with human rights activist Chisako from Japan and UN Youth Representative Gavin from Australia about building an online that is safe by design.    This podcast is brought to you by the 5Rights Foundation, the only global organisation working with and for children for better tech. Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://5rightsfoundation.com/  

A sneak preview of the new podcast from the 5Rights Foundation, entirely created and led by young people. Coming out on July 25th .