What happens when the internet — built by adults — becomes the playground for children? This is the question we asked to Joakim Reiter, Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer at Vodafone. In an age of what Reiter calls “data obesity,” it’s becoming harder for parents, caregivers, and adults who aren’t “digital-first” to understand what digital wellbeing really means — let alone protect children online. Reiter admits it himself: even he struggles with phone addiction. And knowing that a child clicks or taps online every half-second, he feels the urgency to make the internet a safer space for young users. 

Reiter stresses the importance of having an honest conversation, one that acknowledges both sides of the digital coin: the freedom and access to knowledge the internet offers, and the risks and reflections of society it mirrors. The challenge, he says, is finding the right balance between empowerment and protection. 

At Vodafone, that balance starts with listening to children. Through surveys and focus groups across different cultures, the company seeks to understand what children want — and then shapes its products and strategies around those insights.  

Learn how Vodafone applies the Corporate Playbook to strengthen its digital responsibility, embed children’s rights, and help build a safer online future for the next generation. 

Guest: Joakim Reiter

Host: Alice Ramsay 

Produced by: ⁠KOAN⁠ 

Supported by: ⁠the LEGO Group⁠ 

Visit ⁠globalchildforum.org ⁠to access the Corporate Playbook.