Every young person has rights: We, as a representative council for 11-25 year olds, advocate for positive change and children’s rights across the city.
Cardiff Youth Council and Cardiff Youth Service took part in a cultural exchange programme bringing together young people from twin cities in France, Germany and Wales during July this year.
The week-long exchange, which was funded through the Taith programme with support from International Links (Global) Ltd., was filled with fun activities, excursions into the City of Nantes, tours and visits to historical sites such as the museum of the machines. The group also attended a football match, between Spain and Japan, as part of the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Each evening a cultural exchange took place where countries could share music, pop culture and sport from their respective nations.
The project gave young people from Cardiff an opportunity to take part in intercultural celebrations with other young people from Nantes and other countries. The focus of this exchange was outdoor education activities, active citizenship and health and wellbeing. This is also part of wider milestones for the city this year in celebrating 60 years of twinning between Nantes and Cardiff.
Through the exchange young people have had the opportunities to broaden their horizons, experience new ways of life, bring back lessons to share with people at home, but also to bond as a group of young people from their own nation learning things about themselves and their own abilities. They have built strong friendships and as part of their responsibilities they were to document their trip which they are currently editing to share with other young people in Cardiff very soon!
CYC Members Courtney, Ffion and Grace speak to BBC’s Lucy Vladev about online safety after the recent publication of a survey carried out by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes.
The survey showed that while many kids feel safe online, a lot of us still experience serious issues like bullying, threats, and unwanted interactions.
Since February 2024, the Children’s Commissioner’s office has run a survey called Monthly Matters, so far they have run surveys on the following:
What would you do if you were in charge of Wales?
School dinners: What are they like?
Travelling to school.
Play/Break times.
Online Safety.
Summer Holidays.
The Survey and What It Means
The survey gathered insights from over 1,200 young people in Wales, aged 7 to 18, and the results were eye-opening. It found that although 76% of children feel happy and safe online, only 32% think that their concerns are taken seriously when they report problems. This disconnect is worrying because it means that many of us might not get the help we need when we face difficulties online.
Our BBC Interview: Sharing Our Stories
During our interview with the BBC, we shared our personal experiences with online safety. Ffion, 16, talked about how quickly things can get out of hand on gaming platforms. What starts as friendly banter can easily turn into something more serious, like threats. She highlighted the importance of adults paying attention to these interactions because things can escalate fast.
Courtney, also 16, expressed concern about the fact that some social media and gaming platforms are reducing their safety restrictions. She pointed out that this is happening at a time when the dangers of being online are becoming more apparent. “It’s strange that platforms are making it easier for harmful content to spread, instead of protecting us,” Courtney said.
Grace, 13, talked about how some people online find ways to get around safety features like blocking. Even though her mom monitors her online activity to make sure nothing weird is happening, it’s still difficult to avoid harmful users. “Even when you block someone, they can still find ways to get to you,” Grace explained.
Why This Matters: Our Call to Action
Our interview with the BBC wasn’t just about sharing our concerns—it was also about calling for action. The media has the power to bring these issues to light and push for change. We believe that by telling our stories, we can help push for stronger protections and ensure that our voices are heard.
We support the work of Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, which is creating a code of practice to protect children from harmful online content. This code is expected to be ready by next spring, and it needs to include strong measures to make sure that platforms are held accountable for keeping us safe.
What Needs to Change?
We believe that tech companies need to prioritise our safety. The survey showed that platforms like Snapchat, YouTube, and Roblox are where young people often feel unsafe. These companies should put stronger safety measures in place, such as better moderation and stricter age verification.
We also need better communication between young people and our parents or guardians. The survey found that less than a third of children in Wales regularly talk to their families about what they’re doing online. We encourage parents to have open conversations with us about our online activities. This can help us feel more comfortable sharing our experiences and asking for help when needed.
Finally, we think it’s important for policymakers and regulators to involve young people in decisions about online safety. We are the ones who use these platforms every day, so our experiences and opinions should shape the rules and policies that are meant to protect us.
Moving Forward: Our Commitment to Change
As members of Cardiff Youth Council, we are committed to advocating for a safer online environment for all young people in Wales. Our experience with the BBC has shown us how powerful it can be to share our stories and start important conversations.
We hope that the findings from the Children’s Commissioner’s survey will lead to real changes that make the internet a safer place for everyone. The time for action is now, and we, the young people of Wales, are ready to be part of the solution.
