What is Cognitive Maturity

This chapter considers how the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 1989 and ratified by every nation except the United States, protects the present and future rights of all children. However, the digital rights of children could not have been anticipated when the treaty was drafted. How should parents, legislators, child advocates, and others strive to both protect children from potential internet harm while still allowing children to develop the requisite skills needed to negotiate the internet alone? How best to achieve the balance between protection and digital participation will be the primary focus of this chapter.