The World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025
Protecting the Digital Generation: Why Kids' Cybersecurity is Everyone's Responsibility
In today's rapidly evolving digital world, children are not just passive users of technology - they’re immersed in it. From tablets and gaming consoles to AI-powered learning tools, young people engage with the digital world earlier and more frequently than ever before. Yet, as the World Economic Forum warns in its Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025, they are among the most exposed and the least equipped to handle the growing threats of cyberspace.
The Core Message: Cybersecurity Must Start With People - Especially Kids
As Check Point Software President Rupal Shah Hollenbeck emphasizes in the Forum’s video, cybersecurity is not just a technical challenge - it’s a human one. And when it comes to children, the stakes are especially high.
From identity theft and data breaches to cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content, kids face a range of risks online. Unfortunately, they often lack the knowledge, tools, and support systems to defend themselves.
Key Trends from the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025
Cyberspace is becoming more unpredictable: Attacks are growing in frequency and sophistication.
Digital natives are not digital experts: Youth are confident online but often unaware of risks.
Trust is fragile and must be built: We need ethical tech design, responsible platform governance, and digital education that starts early.
What Needs to Change?
The video calls for a multistakeholder approach:
✔️ Parents and caregivers must model and teach healthy digital habits.
✔️ Educators should integrate digital literacy and cybersecurity into the curriculum.
✔️ Policymakers and tech platforms must create safer systems by design.
✔️ Companies need to make cyber resilience a cultural, not just technical, priority.
Practical Steps to Build Kids’ Cyber Resilience
Start early: Teach kids basic digital safety (e.g., not sharing personal info, using strong passwords).
Use child-safe technology: Devices and apps with built-in parental controls help reduce risk.
Foster critical thinking: Help children question what they see, read, and click online.
Encourage open communication: Kids should feel safe telling adults about anything strange or uncomfortable online.
Promote digital kindness: Teach empathy and respectful behavior in online spaces.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity is no longer a topic for IT departments or tech companies alone. It's about protecting people - especially the most vulnerable - and building a safer digital society for the future.
The World Economic Forum’s work highlights that trust, ethics, and human resilience must be at the heart of any cybersecurity strategy. And that begins with how we protect, educate, and empower our children online.