From Play to Policy: Young People Know How
During the first week in November, the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights had the privilege of taking the stage at the Cyber Summit 2025—a gathering of leaders from corporate, government, education, and public sectors committed to shaping the digital future of Canada.
Our session, From Play to Policy: Young People Know How, explored the idea that the digital world is the real world. Harms experienced online—harassment, exploitation, misinformation, and surveillance—are not abstract issues. They are human rights concerns that impact safety, dignity, and belonging in our daily lives.
Co-presented by Renée Vaugeois, Executive Director of the John Humphrey Centre, and Jordan Varney, artist, gamer, and youth advocate, the conversation drew directly from three years of national youth engagement on online harms and digital rights. Together, we shared stories and insights from hundreds of young people who have courageously spoken out about what it means to live, learn, and lead in digital spaces.
“We don’t need adults to rescue us; we need adults to listen.”
The presentation highlighted four recurring themes shaping Canada’s digital landscape:
Technology-facilitated violence – Systems built for engagement, not safety, too often amplify hate and exploitation.
Harms in gaming spaces – While gaming fosters connection, it also exposes youth to unchecked discrimination and abuse.
Algorithmic bias and AI – Invisible systems shape what we see and believe, often reinforcing prejudice.
Privacy and surveillance – Safety cannot come at the cost of autonomy and dignity.
Renée and Jordan emphasized that addressing these issues demands a human rights approach:
“Governments have a responsibility to protect. Corporations have a responsibility to respect. Communities have the capacity and role of finding remedy. When those three align, we move from control to care—and from punishment to prevention.
The session closed with an inspiring call to action: a look toward the Youth Digital Rights Summit, taking place February 18–19, 2026, in Ottawa and online, co-hosted by the John Humphrey Centre, Canada Confesses, and the University of Ottawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre.
This national event will bring together youth leaders (ages 16–29) from across Canada to co-create a National Blueprint for Digital Rights—centering youth voices in the design of policies that shape the digital world.
As Jordan shared in closing:
“Canada stands at a digital crossroads. The question isn’t whether we can legislate against harm—it’s whether we can build a digital environment rooted in care, justice, and belonging.”
Join us in Ottawa this February as we move from play to policy—because, as youth keep reminding us, they already know how.
Photo credit: cybersummit.ca