IEEE President’s Note: Designing a Safer Digital World for Kids

- IEEE President Mary Ellen Randall flags a critical design flaw: digital systems weren’t built for kids. With 1/3 of users under 18, we’re seeing addictive algorithms and opaque data practices shaping young minds. But engineers are pivoting! From Greece’s digital modernization to new age-appropriate design standards in the EU, UK, Indonesia, and Brazil, we’re hardening the physical layer of online safety. This isn’t just policy; it’s rigorous systems thinking. IEEE’s 2021 standard and Trustworthy Digital Experiences portfolio are bridging the gap between code and child safety. No more reactive regulation. We’re coding ethics into the architecture itself. Robots, rockets, and responsible AI—let’s build a safer digital world for the next generation.