According to the Children’s Rights and Business Principles developed by UNICEF, “Business has enormous power to improve children’s lives through the way in which they operate facilities, develop and market products, provide services and exert influence on economic and social development. Conversely, business has the power to disregard or even imperil the interests of children, so many of whom find themselves invisible and voiceless”.
Minors
At Telefónica, we believe that children and young people are key to the future, while also recognizing that they are often among the most vulnerable members of society. That is why we are committed to protecting and promoting their rights as an integral part of our corporate strategy.
We are also aware that Information and Communication Technologies have brought about a revolution and represent a fundamental tool for the growth and development of children. For more than two decades, Telefónica has been leading numerous initiatives to foster a safer and healthier digital environment for minors and their families, in line with our long-standing commitment to child protection in the digital environment.
Telefónica’s commitment to the responsible use of technology and to protecting children and young people online is structured around three main areas of action:
- Safe products and services
This includes the development and promotion of parental controls and other security solutions that enable families to manage digital use more responsibly.
This area also covers the audiovisual environment, as children and teenagers are making increasingly intensive use of on-screen content, which plays a key role in their personal, social and civic development. At Telefónica, we therefore consider it essential to:
– Ensure that our programming protects children from potentially inappropriate content.
– Provide effective technical tools that allow parents to exercise their responsibility over what their children watch.
We also work closely with our suppliers to establish basic child protection parameters in the field of security, from device design to operating systems. We promote the adoption of responsible design principles, so that the protection of children and young people is embedded from the outset. - Partnerships with stakeholders
At Telefónica, we believe that ensuring a safer digital environment is a shared responsibility. We therefore work in close coordination with industry partners, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, educational institutions and experts, to help young people understand that while the Internet offers endless opportunities, it is also a space where risks must be managed.
We actively participate in working groups and specialized forums to exchange best practices and develop concrete actions around the responsible use of technology. In addition, we collaborate closely with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and with national authorities to block child sexual abuse material online, further strengthening our commitment to protecting children in the digital environment. - Education and awareness-raising initiatives
We deliver training programs, awareness campaigns and expert discussions that foster good digital habits and encourage reflection and constructive dialogue.
You can find more information on our website: Minors and responsible use – Telefónica.