The LEGO Group is supporting the next phase of an industry initiative to improve children’s experiences in digital play.
UNICEF is leading the three-year expansion of the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) program, with $4.9 million in funding from The LEGO Foundation. The initiative focuses on embedding child-centered design principles into digital game development across the global gaming industry.
The new phase builds on earlier research and tools, including the RITEC-8 framework and the Design Toolbox, and shifts toward broader adoption and real-world implementation. Organizers will work with developers and studios to integrate well-being into everyday design practices, while convening industry leaders to align on shared standards.
“The gaming industry reaches more children than almost any institution on earth,” said Thomas Davin, Global Director, UNICEF Office of Innovation. “RITEC is how we work together to make sure that reach becomes an opportunity.”
The LEGO Group co-founded RITEC with UNICEF in 2021 and will continue to contribute expertise in digital play, drawing on decades of experience creating child-focused experiences.
As digital gaming remains a dominant part of childhood — with nine in 10 children playing online — the initiative aims to guide safer, more inclusive product development across the category.
