The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a report titled What Works to Prevent Online Violence Against Children which shows that prevention education for children can work and that this is a key strategy for addressing online violence against children (VAC).
Building on a review of evaluations of online safety programmes and online VAC programmes for children and adolescents, the report argues that educational programmes have been widely demonstrated to improve overall safety and health. These educational programmes are particularly effective in preventing one type of online VAC – cyberbullying (both victimisation and perpetration).
This report also captured a number of structural and skill components that contribute to the effectiveness of educational programmes and should be widely adopted. Structural components include multiple and varied learning strategies and tools; more lessons, more message exposures, more reminders, and follow-ups; using peer engagement, role-plays, and interactions; getting a supportive whole-school environment; and parental involvement. Skill components include problem-solving, assertiveness, empathy, self-regulation, help-seeking, bystander or defender mobilization, social norm instruction, sex education, and substance abuse education.
The report also revealed that there is a lack of evidence about the success of prevention programmes for online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The report suggests implementing school-based educational programmes with multiple sessions that encourage youth interaction and involve parents. It emphasises the need for more violence prevention programmes that integrate content about online dangers with offline violence prevention. It suggested less emphasis on stranger danger and more emphasis on acquaintance and peer perpetrators, who are responsible for the majority of online violence against children.
The US National Scientific Council on Adolescence recommended in its report titled Engaging, Safe, and Evidence-Based: What Science Tells Us About How to Promote Positive Development and Decrease Risk in Online Spaces that digital technology is designed and regulated in ways that maximise positive, equitable benefits for all young adolescents and limit potential harm. Digital technology changes for young users should be supported by data from developmental research and consistent with already accepted standards.
The research also advocates for better-educating kids, parents, product designers, teachers, legislators, and other stakeholders about the advantages and disadvantages of using digital technology. More evidence-based approaches will make it possible to ensure that early adolescent use of digital technology promotes wellbeing and constructive development while minimising exposure to harm.
Four evidence-based recommendations are advanced by the report:
- Digital technology should promote healthy development and wellness.
- Digital technology should be designed and used in a way that is safe for early adolescents.
- The design and evaluation of digital technology used by young adolescents should take into account the best available research and advance it. Any digital technology platforms that may pose real health risks to young adolescents should be subjected to independent evaluation by experts in developmental science, mental health, and other relevant fields.
- All early adolescents should have consistent access to the level of digital connectivity and devices needed to participate fully in their education and learning.
The report is designed to be used by governments, country offices of international organisations, civil society organisations, and business organisations to help ensure that all aspects of child sexual exploitation and abuse online are explained and included in the legislation in accordance with international and regional standards and good practises.
