The Concept of Children's Digital Rights: Balancing Protection, Participation, and Development in the Cyber Space Introduction: The Birth of the "Digital Citizen" The digital environment has become an indispensable space for socialization, education, and communication for children, giving rise to a new social category — the "digital native from birth." However, the existing frameworks for protecting the rights of the child (the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989) were created in the analog era. The concept of children's digital rights is an evolutionary development and specification of universal child rights applicable to the online environment. Its goal is not to create a separate "digital ghetto" for children, but to ensure their safety, freedom, and opportunities for development in the internet space, recognizing it as a new social reality. Legal Framework: From General Principles to Specific Guidelines The foundation is based on four main principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), applied in the digital context: Principle of the best interests of the child (Art. 3): Must be a priority when developing digital products, platforms, and IT-related state policy. Right to non-discrimination (Art. 2): Protection from digital discrimination, bullying (cyberbullying), and stereotyping based on data. Right to life, survival, and development (Art. 6): Includes the right to a safe digital space that promotes healthy development. Right to participation and the consideration of the child's opinion (Art. 12): The right of children to be heard in matters concerning the digital environment and to participate in its formation. Key Document: In 2021, the Committee on the Rights of the Child adopted General Comment No. 25 (GC No. 25) — an official interpretation of how state parties should implement the CRC in the digital environment. This is the first comprehensive international document in history systematizing the digital rights of children. Structur ... Read more