Bhubaneswar: An Unicef report released here on Monday underscored the importance of digital access and safety for children from all walks of life in the present time.

The annual flagship report "The State of the World's Children 2017: Children in a Digital World" presents the Unicef's first comprehensive look at the various ways the digital technology is affecting children's lives, bring in chances, identifying dangers as well as opportunities.

It argues that governments and the private sector have not kept up with the pace of change, exposing children to new risks and harms and leaving millions of the disadvantaged children behind.

The release of the report was accompanied by a moderated discussion between the adolescents and youth with invited dignitaries.

Issues raised by children and youth were experiential and wide ranging such as - access to technology, its use and benefits, harms of being online and laws that govern technology and its impact.

The report explores the benefits digital technology can offer to all children especially the most disadvantaged- increasing their access to information, building skills for the digital workplace, and giving them a platform to connect and communicate their views.

The report shows that millions of children are missing out on these information. Around one third of the world's youth - 346 million - are not online, worsening inequities and reducing children's ability to take part in an increasingly digital economy.

It examines how the internet increases children's vulnerability to risks and harms, including misuse of their private information, access to harmful content and cyber bullying.

Only collective action by governments, the private sector, children's organisations, academia, families and children themselves can help level the digital field and make the internet safer and more accessible for children, the report says.

"A number of steps are being taken to provide all children with affordable access to high-quality online resources and protect them from exposure to unsuitable material," said women and child development minister Prafulla Samal.