Generation Z, the first cohort to grow up with social media and suffer its early harms, is leading a growing movement demanding digital justice in Europe. The movement gained momentum after the discovery of accounts spreading intimate images and personal data of girls for public shaming. Young people are now pushing for stricter laws to protect users and hold tech platforms accountable.
Generation Z, the first generation to come of age under the dominance of social media, is emerging as a driving force behind a new movement demanding digital justice in Europe. Having been among the earliest users and the first to bear the brunt of the psychological and social harms of these platforms, young people are now taking concrete steps to demand better protection and greater accountability from giant tech companies.
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, a 21-year-old French woman named Chanlé Clémot-McLaren discovered a post on Snapchat from her 16-year-old sister warning about accounts known as "ficha." After investigating, Chanlé found that these Snapchat accounts were publishing intimate photos of girls from her sister's school and dozens of other schools, accompanied by their full personal data such as names, phone numbers, and addresses, putting them at risk. The term "ficha" is a French slang expression derived from the verb "afficher," meaning "public shaming" or "public humiliation." This moment served as the spark that ignited widespread awareness among young people.
Since that incident, the youth movement demanding digital justice has spread across several European countries. It is no longer about an isolated event but has transformed into an organized campaign calling for strict legislation that obligates social media platforms to take greater responsibility for published content and to protect users, especially minors. Activists are demanding an end to the "leniency" towards major tech companies that prioritize profits over user safety and privacy.
This movement represents a radical shift in dealing with the digital world, where passive users, especially young ones, are becoming key actors demanding their rights and placing the issue of digital safety at the heart of public debate. The success of this movement could redraw the power balance between users and tech giants and force governments to adopt more effective laws to regulate cyberspace and protect their citizens from its harms.
Source: The Guardian Tech | Exclusive coverage from AI Tools Oasis
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