Children and the Internet. Youth participation through social networks

This research focuses on how children and young people navigate the "new" virtual world, a space that is expanding rapidly with the Internet and social networks. While these technologies are becoming increasingly central to our lives, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) does not directly address these issues, as at the time of its adoption, new technologies were in their infancy. However, rapid advances in this area raise new questions for children's rights. Is the Internet a safe space for children? Are authorities able to put in place adequate protection measures to ensure their safety online? At the same time, can the Internet and social networks be seen as tools for learning and civic participation for children, in particular by offering them a platform to express themselves and actively participate in public life? This study also offers an innovative perspective by not limiting itself to a purely theoretical approach. The author directly solicited children's opinions on these issues, emphasizing the idea that children's rights should not only be guaranteed for them, but also exercised by them. Thus, the research seeks to establish a balance between the protection of children and their active participation in this new digital space.