Andi Asrifan, Rismawati Rismawati
In an era defined by digital ubiquity, children increasingly engage with online platforms that shape their learning, socialization, and development. This chapter explores the paradoxical nature of digital childhood-where opportunities for creativity, education, and participation coexist with threats such as online predators, privacy violations, and digital addiction. It advocates for a child-centric framework that integrates ethical design, parental mediation, inclusive access, and rights-based governance. Through analysis of global best practices and emerging regulatory standards, this work proposes collaborative strategies to guide children as empowered digital citizens. It highlights the importance of resilience-building, digital literacy, and child participation in shaping safe and inclusive digital ecosystems. The goal is to reframe digital protection not as restriction, but as empowerment-fostering a future in which children are not just users, but ethical and informed contributors. © 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.
Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia; Universitas Muhammadiyah Palopo, Indonesia
