President Emmanuel Macron of France and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus co-authored an op-ed calling for coordinated action to protect children from digital harms [1].

The initiative highlights how the design and governance of digital platforms directly influence the wellbeing of children worldwide. As technology becomes more integrated into early development, the leaders said that global cooperation is necessary to prevent systemic health risks while still leveraging technology for positive health outcomes [2].

In the joint statement, the leaders said that the monetization and structure of digital environments are not passive. They said that the way these platforms are built shapes the health and habits of young users [3].

"Digital environments are not neutral," Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus said [1].

The op-ed urges nations to move beyond fragmented regulations toward a unified global framework. This approach would aim to mitigate the risks associated with generative AI and other emerging technologies that target youth populations [2].

Macron and Tedros said that while digital tools offer significant opportunities for health education and medical access, those benefits are often overshadowed by harmful design choices [3]. The call for action focuses on changing how platforms are governed to ensure that the safety of children takes precedence over profit-driven engagement metrics [2].

By addressing the structural nature of these platforms, the leaders said they aim to create a safer digital landscape where technology serves as a tool for public health rather than a source of psychological or physical harm [3].

“Digital environments are not neutral.”

This joint effort signals a shift from viewing online safety as a matter of individual parental supervision to treating it as a systemic public health issue. By framing digital environments as non-neutral, the WHO and the French government are laying the groundwork for international regulatory standards that hold platform architects accountable for the health outcomes of their youngest users.