Session 4

Digital Childhoods

Protecting children’s well‐being in the digital age

Organised by Fondation Botnar and the The Lancet & Financial Times Commission ‘Growing up in a digital world: Governing health futures 2030’

The rise of frontier technologies is radically transforming healthcare systems, health services and medical practices. While this presents opportunities and risks for promoting health and well‐being, the specific impact on children and young people is often disregarded. Very few countries have digital child health policies or reflect the particular needs and vulnerabilities of children and young people in their general digital health policies. Health policies rarely consider how the digital transformation of health systems will influence critical issues for children, such as privacy, safety, inclusion, and empowerment.

What is the impact of new programs aiming to increase children’s health literacy, promote healthy lifestyles, or manage chronic diseases and mental health? How does the digitalization of health systems help or harm children and young people? What is the role of digital health governance in preserving childhood and protecting children’s health and well‐being? This session will raise awareness about the specific risks and opportunities of digital health for children and adolescents and collect policy recommendations to ensure that frontier technologies are leveraged in a responsible manner.

Organisers