New challenges

How our children will grow up in 2050

Tomorrow's youth will have different challenges to overcome than today's - but artificial intelligence should not prevent the next generation from having a more analog childhood.

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Children will become a minority in Europe, there will be more children on other continents, the world will become more digital and climate change will pose new challenges for growing up. A future scenario with two expert interviews.

A recent UNICEF report paints a clear picture: Europe will be dominated by an ageing society. The number of children will continue to decline, and in many countries children will make up less than 20 percent of the total population. At the same time, life expectancy is increasing, which will focus society's attention more on older generations. Education, leisure activities and social programs for children could become less important. Futurologist Reinhold Popp takes a different view: "Children will be seen as a precious resource! This will hopefully lead to long-overdue reforms in the education system - from kindergartens to schools and universities."