Abstract

Each and every State carries the key responsibility ensuring the protection of children, who are widely considered as one of the most vulnerable sections in society. This concern received global recognition especially after the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, leading to establishment of key principles including equality, the right to life and development, and making their best interests the most important factor in every decision affecting them. The sudden increase in the growth of digital technologies and internet-based platforms has altered how young people access data, learn, and interact socially. While the digital world provides many opportunities for learning, creativity, and interaction, it also puts children at risk of problems like cyberbullying, online exploitation, misuse of personal information and loss of privacy. The COVID-19 pandemic further brought these concerns into attention. With the sudden shift to online modes of learning and communication, it became vital for children to adjust quickly to new forms of interaction which thereby, revealed gaps in existing systems and highlighted the need for stronger rules and laws to protect children in both physical and digital spaces. This paper sheds some light by deeply analysing the relationship between digital rights and youth protection, underlining the necessity for an approach that is balanced and ensures safety while enabling children to exercise their rights in the digital environment. It supports a system based on international standards that can create a safe and inclusive digital space which ultimately helps in their growth and well-being.

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