Social media allows us to make connections with people across the world, catch up with friends and offers plenty of entertainment. But, with the growth of platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, we have also seen our kids exposed to a host of inappropriate content. So, is it time to introduce ratings for safety on social media?
A new report from criminal justice experts suggests introducing an official five-star rating system for social media platforms. It would indicate how safe they are for children and follows a study that began in 2019,
How would ratings for safety on social media work?
The research recommends rating content on its suitability for younger users, compulsory age verification through a national system and an alert system – run by a regulator – that would notify parents and others about threats on social media. It says the rating system would help parents and carers make more informed decisions about whether to allow children to access certain sites.
The idea is particularly to focus on the link between young people on social media and violent content. However, it could also cover other types of inappropriate content too.
Online Safety Bill
The research comes as the Government prepares to reintroduce the Online Safety Bill to Parliament. which will introduce major regulation to social media platforms for the first time. This includes the requirement for networks to remove illegal content and protect users from other harmful material amongst a string of moves to improve safety on social media.
But the report says the Government and tech sector has a “collective blindspot” around the relationship between social media and youth violence. It suggests that young people have regular access to violent videos online and adverts for weapons. Another concern is the way that social media often amplifies conflict and accelerates its route towards violence.
OIly Stephens
The study saw researchers work with Thames Valley Police’s violence reduction unit, and the parents of Olly Stephens, the 13-year-old from Reading who was stabbed to death following a dispute on social media.
Olly’s mother Amanda said the Government should consider the recommendations of the study becoming part of the Online Safety Bill.
“Our children live in an online world that means danger is close, it’s under your roof, it can attack them 24 hours a day, there is no respite from its harm,” she said.
“The Government should listen to the findings from this report when they bring back the Online Safety Bill. Social media companies must be held accountable for the safety of children using their apps.”
Recommendations for safety on social media
The report recommends introducing digital safer school teams, with police officers leading the initiative to deter children from using social media in a harmful way.
Other concepts for safety on social media include a public information campaign offering advice on healthy and unhealthy patterns of social media use. There would also be online conflict resolution training for people who work with children.
