Nordic Child Tech Policy Alliance (NOCTA)

Today, more children than ever use digital technology daily. For them, access to the digital environment has become a fully integral part of their daily lives. In the Nordic countries, children engage in activities in the digital environment for things such as leisure, to learn about the world and nourish friendships, but also because it is increasingly expected of them by parents, caregivers, schools and the public authorities. Meaningful access and use of digital technologies contributes to enhancing children’s ability to fully enjoy their rights. At the same time, it also presents numerous risks and challenges.

The growing presence of digital technology in children’s lives requires that we think deeply about its impact. To secure a digital environment that protects and empowers children’s rights, and that supports their mental health and wellbeing, decision makers need to adopt a child-centred approach to tech policy. Children should be perceived as independent rights holders, regardless of their background or family situation, and children’s own views and voice matter in all decisions affecting them.

When children’s rights and voices are not actively incorporated into decisions, they are often overlooked, and their rights and agency undermined. Therefore, in today’s polarized debates around children’s digital presence, a strong, independent, and child-centred voice is more crucial than ever.

By working together, we can collectively deliver and amplify this voice in the public conversations and ensure the best interest of the child is placed at the centre of legislative efforts and actions by tech companies.

Subsequently, as a response to Prinsparets Stiftelse’s (SE) conference on children’s rights in the digital environment in February 2024 in Stockholm, Børns Vilkår (DK) and Prinsparets Stiftelse (SE) established an alliance currently consisting of Bris (SE), Digitalt Ansvar (DK), UNICEF Sweden (SE) and Barnevakten (NO). As children’s rights organizations, child helplines and knowledge centers on children’s rights and tech, our aim is to protect and strengthen children’s rights in the digital environment.

NOCTA’s Vision Statement

NOCTA’s vision is a digital environment that helps every child enjoy the full range of their rights, that supports their mental health and well-being, and that empowers them with the cognitive, emotional, interrelational and democratic knowledge and skills to navigate safely and consciously online.