Seminar 2 Children's digital access to child protection work

How can digital technology make support and protection more accessible to children? This was a central question during the seminar with Dr. Sarah Carlick, who has researched children's access to social child protection through mobile apps.

Not many relevant apps for children

In a study, she examined apps in Google and Apple's app stores during the period 2014–2023. The study shows that, despite the large number of apps available, few are relevant to children who need information, support or the opportunity to report abuse and exploitation. Furthermore, most solutions are aimed at adults rather than directly at children.

This is particularly interesting because digital technology is now present in almost every part of children's lives. Sarah Carlick argued that it is not present to the same extent where society wants to protect children and reduce the risks they are exposed to.

Error when digital solution comes first

A large part of the seminar was about how digital solutions are developed. Too often, a system is created first. Then social workers or children are asked what they need. The risk is that the solution does not work for those who will actually use it.

Instead, Sarah Carlick highlighted the importance of co-creation. Children, social workers, technology developers and other stakeholders need to be involved from the beginning. It is not about digital technology replacing the relationship in social work, but about how it can provide additional opportunities to reach children where they are.

This can be particularly important for children living in difficult situations. Domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation were among the topics mentioned during the seminar. If a child has difficulty seeking help through the usual channels, digital solutions could be an additional route to information, support or contact.

At the same time, it was emphasized that the area is still relatively unregulated and that more knowledge is needed about what actually works. Digital solutions need to be safe, understandable and developed based on the actual needs of children and professionals.

Towards the end, Sarah Carlick used the phrase “safety by co-design.” If we are talking about children’s voice and children’s best interests, we also need to find ways to involve children when developing the solutions that are meant to help and protect them.

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Text: Charlotta Falkholt, City of Gothenburg, Administration for Functional Rights