How bad design harms kids

Websites, apps, and platforms across the internet are rife with manipulative design meant to keep users online and increase revenue for tech companies, without regard to the wellbeing of people using those products.

For children, those risks and harms are even greater. Learn more below about how bad design can harm kids online, and how a design code can change that.

Autoplay

THE ISSUE

Increases time on a platform; excessive time on screens linked to mental health challenges, physical risks including less sleep; promotes family conflict/battles over turning off.

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Algorithmic Recommendations

THE ISSUE

Risks of exposure to violent content, racist content, pornography, mis/disinformation.

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Location tracking

THE ISSUE

Makes it easier for strangers to track and contact children; prompts to share geographic information make it easy for children to share their location with others.

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Nudges to check platforms

THE ISSUE

Overuse, distraction, leverages FOMO in children.

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Public profiles

THE ISSUE

Unwanted contact from strangers, sexual grooming, cyberbullying.

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Nudges to share

THE ISSUE

Loss of privacy in general, can lead to sexual predation, identity theft, etc.

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