About 5rights
5rights: Empowering Children and Young People in the Digital World
In today's digital age, children and young people are growing up with technology at their fingertips. While this can be a great opportunity for learning, creativity, and social connection, it also comes with risks and challenges. That's where 5rights comes in – a company dedicated to enabling children and young people to access the digital world creatively, knowledgeably, and fearlessly.
Founded by Baroness Beeban Kidron in 2015, 5rights is a UK-based organization that advocates for the rights of children in the digital world. The name "5rights" refers to five key principles that should guide how we design and use technology for young people:
1. The right to remove: Children should have the right to easily delete any content they have created or shared online.
2. The right to know: Children should be informed about who is collecting their data online and how it will be used.
3. The right to safety and support: Children should be protected from harmful content or behavior online, as well as provided with resources if they experience harm.
4. The right to informed consent: Children should understand what they are agreeing to when using digital services or sharing personal information.
5. The right to digital literacy: Children should have access to education about how technology works so they can make informed decisions about its use.
These principles are based on existing human rights frameworks but adapted specifically for the digital context where children spend more time than ever before.
So what does 5rights do? They work with policymakers, industry leaders, educators, parents/carers/guardians (PCGs), researchers/academics (RAs), civil society organizations (CSOs), media outlets/journalists (MOJs) – anyone who has a stake in shaping how technology affects young people –to promote these five rights through research projects , policy recommendations , educational resources , and public awareness campaigns .
For example, 5rights has conducted research on how children's data is collected and used by popular apps and websites, highlighting the need for greater transparency and control. They have also developed a "digital citizenship" curriculum for schools that teaches young people about online safety, privacy, critical thinking, and creativity.
In addition to their advocacy work, 5rights also provides direct support to young people through their Youth Commission – a group of 18-24 year olds who advise the organization on its priorities and activities. The Youth Commission members are from diverse backgrounds across the UK with different experiences of digital life. They share their insights through blogs , videos , podcasts , social media posts , events etc.
Overall, 5rights is an innovative company that recognizes the potential of technology to empower young people but also acknowledges its risks. By promoting these five rights principles in collaboration with various stakeholders they aim to create a safer digital world where children can thrive creatively without fear or harm.
If you're interested in learning more about 5rights or getting involved in their work as a PCG/RA/CSO/MOJ or even as a young person yourself then visit their website at www.5rightsfoundation.com .