As technology companies dey expand their influence for pikin dem life, first ladies and spouses of world leaders don call for one common international framework to protect young users, and Türkiye person Emine Erdogan dey urge the United Nations make dem set shared standards for digital safety.

For high-level meeting wey happen for UN headquarters for New York on September 21, Erdogan talk say national regulations alone no fit handle the kind challenges wey global technology companies dey bring, and she ask make dem do coordinated international action instead.

The event, wey carry the title “The Invisible Architecture: Building Safe Digital Systems for Children”, hold for the side-lines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly high-level week under Erdogan sponsorship, in cooperation with UNICEF and the Office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children.

The discussion gather first ladies and spouses of heads of state and government from 13 countries, and dem highlight the growing risks wey pikin dem dey face online and the need to make their safety become shared international responsibility.

From national rules to global standards

Erdogan warn make people no dey fear technology as if na only bad thing, but she explain say digital platforms don turn pass only communication tool — dem don turn system wey fit direct how society dey go and reshape everyday life.

“We no fit just sidon dey watch technology, wey na we self invent, dey invent new kain human wey go serve the system under our own eye,” she talk.

She criticize business models wey dey put profit and engagement pass pikin welfare, and she talk say the pressure wey those systems dey put for young users must get solution.

“Ensuring children's safety no be only job for parents; na responsibility for all of us. We suppose build healthy digital ecosystem and make sure say safety no be extra feature wey dem go add later, but na the starting point for how dem design these systems,” she talk.

Erdogan also talk say Türkiye don introduce legal and technical steps about pikin use of social media from early time. But she point out say when companies dey operate globally, each country laws fit make standardisation hard.

“So we need to join our efforts,” Erdogan talk, asking for common global standards under the UN with regular monitoring and reporting systems.

Other speakers support her proposal and talk the same way: because digital platforms cross borders, response suppose pass national law alone.

Sahar Salam, spouse of the Lebanese Prime Minister, back the idea of one international framework to set minimum standards for child safety, clear responsibilities for tech companies, and effective cross-border cooperation.

“No country fit protect im pikin for the digital world alone. Technology dey cross borders sharp sharp. Our protection systems no dey follow reach,” she talk.

Romanian First Lady Mirabela Gradinaru compare am to road safety, say countries get their own rules and enforcement, but internet no get that kind borders.

“Problem no be local again; so solution no fit remain only local,” she talk.

Chilean First Lady María Pía Adriasola Barroilhet urge adults to lead by example, saying parents suppose ready to disconnect from their own screens if dem want make pikin dem do the same.

The risks children face behind the screen

Pass wetin law fit do, the speeches show how digital world expose pikin dem to exploitation, manipulation, cyberbullying, harmful content and privacy violations.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium base her talk on children's rights, saying pikin dem no suppose become part of technology companies business model like dem be just numbers.

“We get collective responsibility to act to safeguard children's rights, safety and wellbeing,” she talk.

Burundian First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye acknowledge the opportunities wey digital technology dey give young people, especially for Africa, but she warn say these benefits carry rising risks to pikin safety and dignity.

Kenyan First Lady Rachel Ruto describe the internet as shared digital space where threats no dey respect national borders.

“Pikin data, picture, location and online behaviour no be commodity to dey harvest; na part of that pikin dignity, rights and future,” she talk.

The discussion also move beyond social media to artificial intelligence. Diana Fox Carney, spouse of the Canadian Prime Minister, warn say AI na the next frontier for child protection.

“Our children no suppose give up their childhood to the technologies wey we create,” she talk.

Serbian First Lady Tamara Vucic ask make pikin dem get knowledge to understand AI, together with safe standards for how to use am for education and stronger international cooperation.

Lithuanian First Lady Diana Nausediene encourage countries to find technological solutions wey fit do effective age verification while still protecting personal data from leak, tracking and profiling.

Making child safety a shared responsibility

Plenty speakers stress say international standards suppose come with clear obligations for technology companies and practical support for families, schools and communities.

Guatemalan First Lady Lucrecia Eugenia Peinado Villanueva call on companies make children's rights and safety the centre of their operations, and she urge governments to set and enforce clear standards.

She also emphasise say pikin dem suppose get voice for decisions wey concern their digital lives.

Gambian First Lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow argue say technological progress no suppose measure only by how new the innovation be, but by whether pikin dem fit enjoy am safely.

“Years from now, the important question no go be how clever our technology become. E go be whether our children fit experience the promises of technology safely,” she talk.

Senegalese First Lady Marie Khone Faye ask spouses of world leaders make dem use their public platforms to mobilise support and turn commitments into action.

For Sierra Leonean First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, the main rule suppose be say technological advancement go strengthen, no go weaken, children's rights and wellbeing.

The speeches carry one central message: to protect pikin dem for this our connected world, we need more than to regulate their access to technology. E need make companies wey design digital environment answerable, better cooperation between governments, and make sure say children as rights holders get priority over commercial interest.