News

Safeguarding in the digital age: Protection of children from online harms ‘an unmitigated disaster’

2 mins read Social Care Coronavirus
There has been an “unmitigated disaster” in the regulation of child protection in the digital world, Baroness Beeban Kidron, the chair and founder of 5Rights Foundation, told CYP Now’s Safeguarding Children in the Digital Age 2021 conference.
Baroness Beeban Kidron says 'kids will pay the price' for poor safeguarding. Picture: Parliament UK
Baroness Beeban Kidron says 'kids will pay the price' for poor safeguarding. Picture: Parliament UK

Speaking about the systemic problems in the technology sector, Kidron said: “Unless we start to understand how the tech itself is driving the problem and deal with it upstream, in the design and regulation of services, we will always be playing catchup while the kids pay the price.”

While using social media and other online platforms, “children are nudged into giving up more and more data about themselves, and more and more time in their lives,” Kidron added, in a stark warning over predators’ easy access to children on social media sites such as Snapchat.

“We could say childhood is driven by commercial interests and in the relentless pursuit of that, anything goes,” she added. “I do mean anything: political lies, health lies, violent content, pornography in the hands of eight-year-olds, introducing strange adults to children, publishing their locations to predators.”

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this

Youth Work Practice Manager

East Herts, Broxbourne, Welwyn Hatfield

Day Opportunities Manager

Hackney, London (Greater)

Head of Finance

London (Greater)