When many people think about online scams, they think about financial scams targeted at older people, or at adults in general. However, children are also the targets of deceptive behaviour online. Here, Gazal Shekhawat and Didem Özkul of the Digital Futures for Children centre review the evidence around some of the ways that children might be manipulated or deceived in the online world.
This Safer Internet Day, we at the Digital Futures for Children centre are exploring some of the biggest threats to children’s safety, well-being and rights in the digital world. We approach the theme “Too good to be true” by exploring the multitude of ways children are manipulated and deceived online. From deceptive design tactics that nudge kids into making unintended choices to the growing risks of AI-driven manipulation, technology-facilitated sexual exploitation, and gaming-related risks, the online landscape is full of complex challenges. This blog brings together key research insights from resources from our publicly available research database to highlight these pressing issues and what they mean for children, parents, and policymakers.