Online Consumer Platforms Targeting Children: Economic Growth Vs. Ethical Risks of Cyber Abuse

Abstract

As digital environments become more and more integrated into marketing strategies, children are now the primary audience for platforms that use gamification, social media influencers, and personalised advertising. Even though these platforms greatly contribute to economic growth and brand engagement, they also expose children to a variety of online threats, such as data exploitation, manipulative design tactics, and cyber abuse. This study explores how persuasive technologies and a lack of regulatory safeguards exploit children's cognitive and emotional vulnerabilities. The dual nature of online consumer platforms that target children is examined in this research, which also looks at the hazards of cyber abuse and the ethical dilemmas they present. Children represent a valuable and crucial audience for marketers as digital technology becomes more ingrained in daily life. But these tactics frequently make it difficult to distinguish between commercial exploitation and enjoyment, which raises grave ethical questions. Children are particularly susceptible to data privacy violations, deceptive design techniques, and exposure to dangerous content, such as online grooming and cyberbullying.