We live in an age where children are growing up surrounded by screens, social media and content that is updated every second. This digital reality is not neutral: it presents risks, opportunities and, above all, pressing questions. Are we adequately protecting the children’s rights in this new context? What does it mean to ensure a happy childhood in a hyper-connected world?

In this episode of the podcast, we spoke to representatives from UNICEF on the major challenges facing children in the digital age. A conversation that goes far beyond warnings about screen time: we’re talking about emotional wellbeing, participation, privacy and genuine support.

Children also have the right to switch off

«Children need to get bored. They need not to be connected all the time. Rest, free exploration and screen-free play are also rights that we must protect,» she reminds us Nacho Guadix from UNICEF.

Technology is not the problem. The problem is how it is used and what role it plays in children’s development. Rather than criminalising its presence, we must learn to support and guide children towards a healthy, respectful and critical use of digital environments.

It’s not just about protection: it’s also about participation

One of the key points of the interview centres on children’s right to to be heard. As set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children are not merely subjects of protection, but also active participants with the right to express their views and take part.

«We often forget to ask them how they experience their relationship with technology. And that’s a mistake. If we want to design effective solutions, we first need to understand their perspective,» emphasises one of the heads of UNICEF’s policy unit on children in digital environments.

Who looks after the digital environment?

The conversation also focuses on the shared responsibility: families, schools, governments and technology platforms must work together to create safe, accessible and emotionally healthy environments. Hyperconnectivity must not lead to digital neglect.

UNICEF stresses: «We are working to ensure that technology serves child development, not the other way round. It is not just a matter of blocking or filtering content, but of teaching children to exercise judgement, empathy and respect.».

A happy childhood is a childhood in which children’s rights are respected

This episode is an invitation to rethink our relationship with childhood from a more ethical and committed perspective. Because ensuring the children’s rights In the digital age, it is about much more than simply preventing them from spending too much time in front of a screen. It is about ensuring their overall wellbeing, their emotional development, their privacy and their right to be heard.