Online safety: Internet ‘not designed for children’
Youngsters are not prepared for what they are signing up to on the internet, and are frequently giving personal information away, Children did not know how their data was being used due to “impenetrable” terms and conditions. The internet was not designed for children even though they are now the biggest users.
‘Give them power’
Despite the internet being an “incredible force for good”, children were being left to fend for themselves with parents hoping they would avoid its pitfalls.
How can I keep my kids safe online?
Children should study “digital citizenship” to learn about their rights and responsibilities online and that social media companies should rewrite their terms and conditions in far simpler language. Children already learn about using the internet and staying safe online at school as part of ICT but it really should be made as part of the curriculum from the age of four.
Small print often contained “hidden clauses” waiving privacy rights and allowing content children posted to be sold on. Parents are always going to be on a losing battle which is why we need to take greater action to shift the balance of power towards children. This is about helping children navigate this world, they have got all sorts of rights that we have signed up to in the physical world. It is now time to sign up to those in the digital world.
Matteo is in year five He plays a game online where one person has to draw something while the other person guesses what it is.They couldn’t guess what it is was that he drew and then someone called he an a-hole. He felt really upset so he straight away told his mum. Matteo’s mum said she could do “absolutely nothing” about it. She blocked that person and then felt extremely guilty that he had had access to that. Matteo’s mum went on to say that they just aren’t aware of their digital footprint.
Small print
The study tested teenagers’ ability to understand the terms and conditions of photo-sharing website Instagram, which it says is used by 56% of 12 to 15-year-olds and 43% of eight to 11-year-olds. The report said none of the teenagers understood fully what the terms and conditions committed them to. The taskforce’s panel then simplified and condensed Instagram’s terms and conditions and found that the same group of children understood it easily. After reading the re-written document, 13-year-old Alex, said he would delete Instagram because he thought it was “weird”. Another teenager, Ben, said it made him realise how much of his personal data he’d been giving away without realising.
A government spokesman said the UK was a “world leader in internet safety”, but accepted there was more to do and that it would consider the report’s findings. The internet has given children and young people fantastic opportunities, but protecting them from risks they might face online or on their phones is vital. Social media companies have to have robust processes in place to address inappropriate and abusive content on their sites, and they are expected to respond quickly to incidents of abusive behaviour on their networks. The social media platform instagram It has always made it a priority to give people easy to understand, clear information about our safety and privacy policies. The company goes beyond its guidelines to offer safety and privacy help and has produced a parents’ guide to help them talk to their teenagers about internet safety.