In line with our purpose, “As a trusted partner, Orange gives everyone the keys to a responsible digital world”, we are strengthening our long-standing commitment to protect young people from the dangers of digital: These actions all come under our For Good Connections initiative.
Screen addiction and cyberbullying: a growing social problem
Screens are multiplying and the time spent on them is now considerable.
Although digital technology is an undeniable source of progress, education, entertainment, and social connection, it is not without risks.
Excessive screen time leads to serious health problems, especially among children, such as addiction, isolation, insomnia, and weight gain and yet young people are spending ever more time online and less time enjoying more balanced activities.
Children may also be exposed to inappropriate online content, abuse, and harassment.
One in three children worldwide are now affected by the downsides of digital, according to Philip Jaffé, a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. According to the WHO and the second volume of the HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) study, 16% of young people aged 11 to 15 reported to have fallen victim to online bullying in 2022, an increase of 3% in 4 years. In France, 23% of children were targeted by cyberbullying at least once, according to a survey carried out by the Audirep institute in May 2024.
Children who are victims of cyberbullying are three times more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, which increases the risk of long-term psychological distress according to UNICEF’s Office of Research – Innocenti.
Our commitments to fight digital abuse
To limit young people’s exposure to inappropriate or hateful content and protect them from the risks associated with screen addiction and cyberbullying, we various systems in place to protect and support parents and children.
The 2024 Global Child Forum report shares business initiatives that help to protect children’ s rights.
Orange received a score of 8/10, highlighting our continued efforts to be transparent and collaborate with stakeholders. p>
Policy on child protection and children’s rights in the digital age
This document reflects Orange’s ongoing commitment to children’s rights and child protection. It brings together a binding set of principles and behaviors for everyone in the company and therefore guides all our decisions..
Tools and services to protect children online
We have developed a framework to ensure children use our products and services safely and responsibly, such as parental controls that block inappropriate content and restrict screen time according to the child’s age. More protective measures are gradually being integrated into offers and services that can be accessed by children in the home, such as mobile phones, TV, and computers.
We can help parents wishing to equip their children with adapted solutions and also offer online advice and tips as well as dedicated child safety content in Belgium, France, Moldova, Poland, and Romania.
In France, we have launched the SaferPhone offer, which includes a Trust Pact to be signed by parents and teenagers, aimed at encouraging healthy digital practices, such as installing parental controls, protecting personal information, configuring social networks... In addition to the specific package and cell phone, this offer includes a subscription to Orange Cybersecure: a service that filters unwanted calls, blocks malicious links and protects against cyberthreats.
Stakeholder dialog
We also focus on prevention and maintaining contact with parents, in collaboration with charities and associations focused on children’s security, rights, and education, for example with the Internet Watch Foundation in Slovakia, e-Enfance and Internet Sans Crainte in France, WeTechCare in Belgium, the Empowering Children Foundation in Poland, and the Malian branch of the Internet Society.
Recognizing the importance of giving children a voice, we also actively involve them in our research and discussions with our various stakeholders. In France, 629 parents and 120 children were surveyed in November 2023 about their digital experiences and perceptions to help us better target our protection measures.
Awareness and education campaigns
We organize digital workshops in our Orange stores and in schools for parents, children, and grandparents to learn how to use digital tools appropriately, involving 400,000 young people between 2023 and 2024. We also provide dedicated educational resources to help teachers address these topics in the classroom, in particular Digitaliada in Romania and EducaInternet in Spain.
Awareness campaigns have been carried out in France with our partners from rugby and football federations. 450,000 children have been made aware of safer internet use in France since 2021. In partnership with associations such as the Fondation pour l’Enfance, we encourage children to come forward and have supported the official and free short number 3018 to report cyberbullying and receive psychological support, technical solutions, and legal assistance.
Orange in France has also created an Escape Game, “Les Magiciens du numérique”, which guides young people aged 9 to 14 towards positive and responsible practices in the digital world. The game is now being rolled out in Orange countries in Europe and will be extended to countries in Africa and the Middle East from 2025.
Orange Mali, in partnership with the Malian branch of the Internet Society, has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the responsible use of social networks in schools. In 2021, the first campaign reached 6,211 students in 30 schools. Following high demand, the initiative was extended to 23,278 students (52% of whom were girls) in 41 schools in 5 cities in 2023.
Events at a glance
Orange Morocco, alongside its partners, supports a training program to prevent school harassment, launched on October 29, 2024, in Rabat under the patronage and presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, President of the National Observatory for Children's Rights, Mrs. Brigitte Macron, and the Ministry of National Education. This project aims to raise awareness among middle school students about digital risks. An awareness guide to prevent cybebullying has been designed to enable institutions to act autonomously and effectively.
A film co-produced by Orange Belgium “TKT” and screened in cinemas in Belgium on 9 October 2024 addresses cyberbullying while raising awareness and encouraging good habits to counter cyberbullying and online hate.
On 24 September 2024, Orange Slovakia conducted a campaign to raise awareness of cyberbullying through a video sharing three influencers’ experiences, told through the eyes of their mothers.
On 24 July 2024, Orange Jordan launched the #Shallah_Positiv initiative, which aims to build a safe and positive digital society for all. See more on LinkedIn.
As part of our partnership with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic, we brought together more than 2,000 young people aged 10 to 14 in France and Luxembourg on 15 May 2024 to raise awareness of digital best practices through sport and the values of Paris 2024.
Today’s children build tomorrow’s society. It is our responsibility to help young people build a safer digital world – a commitment that we will continue to support with all our stakeholders.