The rights of minors in the digital environment: a conference to rethink the protection of young people

16 March 2026

Conference - 19 March 2026

A conference to rethink the protection of young people online

The 19 March, the Association e-Childhood / 3018 organised a conference on «The rights of minors in the digital environment: between realisation and vulnerability».», The conference will bring together researchers, institutions, public authorities and those working in the field to explore the issues involved in realising the fundamental rights of minors online.

At a time when digital uses play a central role in the daily lives of young people, the question of the effectiveness of their rights in the digital space is becoming a major challenge for our society. Access to reliable information, protection against online violence, the impact of screens on their physical and mental health: these are all issues that call for collective responses.

Through this conference, the Association e-Enfance / 3018 wishes to open a space for dialogue in order to analyse the transformations underway and identify the real levers for better protection and greater effectiveness of children's rights.

Why this conference?

Because the rights of minors must also be guaranteed in the digital environment. Inform, protect and preserve The health and development of young people today requires the collective mobilisation of institutions, digital players and civil society.

Three major issues at the heart of the discussions

Round table 1

How can access to reliable information be guaranteed in a disorganised information environment?

These days, most young people get their information online, via social networks and digital platforms. In an environment marked by the rapid circulation of content and the multiplication of information sources, how can we guarantee access to reliable, understandable information?

This first round table will analyse the transformations in young people's information practices and the challenges posed by disinformation and the algorithmic logic that stems from it.

On this occasion, the Association will be presenting its ground-breaking study of information practices among 11-18 year-olds and their relationship with misinformation (carried out by the Toluna Harris-interactive Institute).

Read the transcript

Round table 2

Protecting minors online: can the law keep pace with digital technology?

Two years after the DSA came into force, emerging phenomena and online risks continue to have a massive impact on young people.

This round table will offer a review of existing legal provisions at European and national level, and will analyse the challenges associated with their implementation: regulation of platforms, age verification, links between different legal standards and the effectiveness of protection mechanisms.

Read the transcript

Round table 3

The health of minors in the digital age: rethinking living environments beyond screens

The intensive use of screens is part of a wider context of life: the organisation of family, school and social spaces, the limited attractiveness of off-screen alternatives, and changes in ways of socialising.

This final round table will look at the impact of digital environments on young people's physical and mental health , by exploring the levers and off-screen alternatives that can be used to create environments that are more conducive to their development and well-being.

The transcript will be available shortly

WATCH THE REPLAY OF THE CONFERENCE

The conference was broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the Association e-Enfance / 3018.
Find out all about the round tables and the discussions with the speakers.

Watch the replay

The conference was made possible thanks to the free use of the amphitheatre at the Lycée Henri-IV, and is part of the work of the H4Lab/Coupole, the school's transformation management laboratory, which supports pilot projects, promotes skills and encourages changes in practices to improve the quality of educational pathways.