Childhood in Transition: Safeguarding Children in a Changing Socio-Digital World

Abstract

Childhood has never been static. It evolves with families, economies, technologies, and cultural values. Yet the pace of transition in the twenty-first century is unprecedented. Today’s children grow up simultaneously in physical homes, schools, neighbourhoods, and digital ecosystems shaped by smartphones, gaming platforms, social media, and algorithm-driven content. This dual environment has expanded opportunities for learning, creativity, and social connection, but it has also introduced risks that traditional child protection systems were not designed to address. Safeguarding children in this changing socio-digital world therefore requires a renewed social work vision one that integrates child rights, mental health, family systems, digital literacy, and community accountability.