Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC)

What Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC) does

The Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC) is an academic research centre established in 2023 as a joint venture between the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the 5Rights Foundation, hosted within LSE's Department of Media and Communications in London. The centre conducts interdisciplinary research on children's rights in digital environments, framed by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child's General Comment No. 25. DFC's core products are a portfolio of research projects and applied frameworks rather than commercial software: these include the RIGHTS.AI project examining children's experiences with generative AI across five countries, the DigiPulse project using ecological momentary assessment and passive smartphone sensing to study mental health impacts in the UK, Brazil, and Kenya, the Better EdTech Futures project auditing AI tools in UK schools, the Child Rights by Design (CRbD) framework synthesizing 42 UNCRC articles into 11 design principles, and the Playful by Design toolkit for digital product designers.

DFC's underlying technology stack is methodological rather than software-based: mixed-methods research combining qualitative interviews, surveys, ecological momentary assessment, passive smartphone data collection, and systematic policy analysis. The centre also maintains a searchable Global Research Database and a multimedia distribution layer (YouTube, podcasts, monthly newsletter reaching 6,000+ readers). Its go-to-market is community-led and policy-oriented: research outputs are distributed freely through LSE Research Online, direct website downloads, and an international partner network including EU Kids Online, Global Kids Online, UNICEF Innocenti, and UN OHCHR.

The centre does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded entirely by foundation grants, with 5Rights Foundation as the principal funder and additional project-specific funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Huo Family Foundation, and Rothschild Foundation. Stakeholders — rather than customers — include national and international policymakers, UN bodies, regulators, academic researchers, child rights NGOs, and a secondary audience of technology companies and platform providers seeking guidance on child-rights-respecting design.

Name

Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC)

Legal name

Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC)

Website

https://digital-futures-for-children.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DFC is an LSE-hosted academic research centre jointly operated with 5Rights Foundation that produces frameworks, policy research, and child-participatory studies on children's rights in digital environments, serving policymakers, regulators, academics, and child rights organizations globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG), Student Data Privacy Management & Consent (FERPA/GDPR/COPPA) (EDAFALAH), Privacy Governance & Consent Management (HDADAIAI)

Keywords

• Children's digital rights
• Child rights research
• Digital policy advocacy
• EdTech policy research
• Child participation research

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Foundation Funding: DFC operates as a research center funded primarily through grants and project-specific funding from foundations including 5Rights Foundation (principal funder), Garfield Weston Foundation, Huo Family Foundation, and Rothschild Foundation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DFC conducts independent, evidence-based research on children's rights in digital environments, producing peer-reviewed reports, policy frameworks, and practical toolkits for policymakers, regulators, educators, and technology companies. The centre develops frameworks such as Child Rights by Design (CRbD) and the Playful by Design toolkit, and runs applied research projects on AI in education, digital gaming ecosystems, and child participation. Its work is grounded in the UNCRC General Comment No. 25 and is delivered through the joint LSE–5Rights Foundation partnership.

Product overview

The Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC) is a joint research center between LSE and 5Rights Foundation that produces research publications, frameworks, and tools focused on children's rights in digital environments. Rather than a unified software product, DFC offers a portfolio of research projects and outputs including: the RIGHTS.AI project examining children's experiences with generative AI globally; the Better EdTech Futures research investigating educational technology's impact on children; the Child Rights by Design (CRbD) framework providing 11 principles and implementation tools for digital designers; the Playful by Design Toolkit for creating rights-respecting digital play environments; the DigiPulse project using ecological momentary assessment to study children's smartphone use and mental health; the GenAI in EdTech Audit evaluating AI tools in UK schools; and multiple regional studies on children's digital rights in Africa, gaming ecosystems, digital policies, and regulatory impacts. These products are interconnected as part of DFC's comprehensive research agenda guided by UNCRC General Comment No. 25, providing both evidence-based advocacy and practical tools for policymakers, designers, and advocates working to protect children's rights in digital spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Rights by Design (CRbD) framework

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced 10+ major reports and research outputs, including the Child Rights by Design framework adopted by international organizations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, regional and supporting.

• LSE Department of Media and CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department of Media and Communications hosts DFC. Rated #1 in the UK and #2 globally in the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the department provides academic infrastructure, research excellence, and institutional credibility. The department aims to be the leading research-based department in media and communications in the UK.
• Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital ChildstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership focusing on children's experiences with digital technologies. Supports cross-national comparative research on children's digital rights and opportunities.
• EU Kids OnlinestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research network conducting research on children's use of the internet and online risks. DFC collaborates with EU Kids Online on RIGHTS.AI project and cross-national comparative analyses.
• Global Kids OnlinestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research network conducting cross-national studies on children's online experiences. Supports DFC's global research database and comparative analyses across regions.
• Young and Resilient Research Centre (Western Sydney University)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center conducting research with and for children and young people. Leads the African children's rights project, investigating digital experiences of children across six African nations with 599 participants.
• Alana Institute (Brazil)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian research partner for DigiPulse project. Conducts research with children in Brazil examining smartphone use and mental health impacts.
• Mtoto News (Kenya)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan child-focused news and research organization. Research partner for DigiPulse project and RIGHTS.AI project in Kenya. Led by Jennifer Kaberi, contributing to African children's digital rights research.
• Revealing RealitysupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for DigiPulse project providing expertise in research methodology and data collection approaches for ecological momentary assessment.
• Child and Youth Friendly Governance ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports child participation aspects of DigiPulse project, ensuring children's perspectives shape research design and dissemination.
• Connected Learning AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network promoting connected learning opportunities for young people. Partner in DFC's research network on children's digital experiences.
• Digital Youth (UK)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based research network focusing on young people's digital lives. Supports DFC's UK research activities and policy engagement.
• UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFC collaborates with UN OHCHR on 'Our Digital World, Our Say' project to meaningfully engage children in shaping how their rights are understood and protected in digital environments.
• Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight (UNICEF)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF's research office focusing on children's rights globally. Partner in DFC's international research network and shares findings to inform global child rights policy.
• Youth Skills (ySKILLS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research project on digital skills for young people. Supports DFC's research on digital skills and children's capacity to manage online data and privacy.
• PrivacyX ConsultingsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerResearch consultancy founded by Steve Wood (ex-ICO Deputy Commissioner). Provides expertise on data protection, AI and digital policy, and regulation impacts on children's rights.
• TechLegalitysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultancy working on technology law and policy. Collaborates with DFC on child rights in digital environments and technology policy research.
• Child Rights ConnectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of child rights organizations and actors. Partner in DFC's advocacy network for children's rights in digital environments.
• Children Online: Research and Evidence (CO:RE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research initiative on children and online risks. Supports DFC's evidence base and contributes to global research database on children's digital experiences.
• From Digital Skills to Tangible Outcomes (DiSTO)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSE-based research project on digital skills and outcomes. DFC applies DiSTO theories to analyze digital inclusion policies affecting children globally.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/lsewebsite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digital-futures-for-children
• TikToktiktok.com/@lse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC)