Internet giants, including social media apps Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, joined several world leaders to issue a global call to better protect children online at a Paris summit.

The call, initiated by France and the UN child protection agency UNICEF, acknowledges that “in the digital environment, children can come across harmful and violent content and manipulation of information. Just like adults, children have rights to privacy, which should be respected.”

The text also listed “threats amplified by technology” including cyber bullying, sexual abuse, prostitution, human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence or violent online radicalization.

“We call upon all governments, online service providers and relevant organizations to stand up for children's rights in the digital environment,” it said.

Signatories include Amazon, Google and You Tube, Facebook, Instagram Microsoft, Snapchat and Twitter.  The call has also been joined by eight nations including France, Italy, Argentina, Jordan, and Morocco — although not the United States.

About 30 heads of state and government and US Vice-President Kamala Harris were participating in the Paris Peace Forum. The summit, organized both in person and online, brings together world leaders, CEOs, NGOs, and others to discuss global issues such as climate, the COVID -19 pandemic and digital transition.

Macron chaired the session about children's rights along with YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki.

“We must regulate contents and authorization tools so that an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old, a 15-year-old child ... cannot be exposed to all contents without rules,” Macron said. That must go via parental control installed by default on some tools Macron said. He also insisted on the need for educating children about the risks of social media.

Social media companies have generally banned kids under 13 from signing up for their services, although it's been widely documented that  kids sign up anyway, with or without their parents' permission.