The Digital Child Newsletter - 16th May
Edited by Luke Taylor
Big news:
UK Parliament debate smartphones and social media
Maryland signs the kids code into law
UK Parliament:
A Westminster Hall Debate: On Monday this week, Miriam Cates hosted a debate to discuss “the impact of smartphones and social media”. Following a fiery speech, Miriam put forward 7 actions points for the Government. The meeting was attended by strong number of other MPs and the recommendations were responded to by a Government minister.
The recommendations included:
Tech companies must use age verification which is “highly effective”;
raising the legal age for social media accounts to 16;
fund phone pouches in schools;
tackle internet pornography - and ban under-18s from places like X if they cannot be assured safety from such exposure;
advertising a public health campaign showing that screens are detrimental for small children and toddlers;
incentivise the development of new - limited -phones without internet browsers or app installers;
ban TikTok from operation in the UK.
“It is now impossible to deny the devastating impact that smartphones and social media are having on our children. The evidence is unequivocal. Smartphones and social media are making our children sadder, sicker and more stupid.”
Miriam Cates MP
For the full speech, click here.
Mixed reviews from some: Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, said children’s voices have been “glaringly absent” from debates about online safety and that they shouldn’t suffer a smartphone ban for the failings of big tech. While we agree on the need to hold tech companies accountable, the overwhelming majority of data shows the harmful nature of any smartphone and social media use and the desire for less of their influence, not more.
Just check out this data if you need convincing.
Maryland:
Kids Code cracks on: Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Kids Code into law last week (9th May), ushering in legislation aimed at protecting children online. Modelled after California's Age Appropriate Design Code, the Kids Code requires online service providers to conduct data protection assessments and implement monitoring practices for guardians. However, legal challenges loom. NetChoice, a tech association that represents Google, Meta, and TikTok, are already suing California over similar legislation.
Responding to the tech advocates, Kramer argued,
“They came to the table at the bill hearings and said, leave it to us, we’re going to deal with it, we do not need the government stepping into this space … But the fact of the matter is leaving the fox to guard the chicken coop has left Big Tech fat and greedy, because they have prioritized cash over our kids.”
Maryland Senator Kevin Kramer
It’s the same story all over.
Around the World:
UK:
Ofcom updates: Beeban Kidron has emphasised the need for comprehensive measures after Ofcom’s recent recommendations here. While the new code requires platforms to verify the age of users accessing child-accessible content, it falls short in addressing design features and lacks robust mitigations for high-risk activities like livestreaming and direct messaging. Kidron urged for a more ambitious approach, advocating for safety by design and default. But, encouragingly, reports of Ofcom’s work have made it as far as Ghana!
A reminder why this is needed: these reports highlight how seemingly innocuous sites like Roblox or Harry Potter fan pages are being used by groomers on children as young as 8.
It’s also not just a UK problem: in the US in 2023, reports of child online exploitation made to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) Cyber Tip Line rose by more than 12%, surpassing 36.2 million reports.
USA:
A Mothers Day gift: For those who celebrate Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May (Americans), Kristin Bride has urged congress to deliver legislation like KOSA and COPPA.2. Both pieces of legislation are currently underway and are much needed to prioritise children's well-being over social media profits. A powerful and personal piece.
"We do everything in our power to protect our kids and keep them safe from harm. We tell them to look both ways before crossing the street and to wear a helmet while riding a bike. We show them what to do in case of a fire or emergency and who to contact for help. We teach them not to talk to strangers or share personal information with anyone they don’t know online. But in today’s digital age, our best efforts just aren’t enough. Parents can’t solve this problem alone.”
Pennsylvania:
ID, please: Another win for age verification in the States as the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved House Bill 2017. This mandates parental consent for individuals under 16 to open social media accounts, restricts content recommendations (especially concerning adult content) and data mining. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Rep. Brian Munroe, was voted through 105-95 and will now be sent to the Senate.
France:
Negative comments: Following the fiercely bold and excellent report regarding “children and screens”, French advocacy group, Anfum, have decided more appropriate recommendations involve encouraging parents to monitor their kids’ screen time, rather than bans on platforms. They called the expert panel’s report “unsubstantiated”. We’re all for education, but this seems like putting the blame on the parents, not the platforms.
Jamaica:
A Plea from the police: Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake this week stressed the importance of parents taking proactive steps to protect children online. Speaking at the National Child Online Protection Committee Open House, Dr. Blake drew attention to the increasing time children spend online and the associated risks. He urged parents to recognise the influence of online personas, see: Roblox, on children and warned for the need of enhanced vigilance.
Editor’s picks:
lots of imagination this week.
Miriam Cates on X: "Imagine if our streets were so lawless that children regularly witnessed rapes & beheadings on the way to school & were propositioned daily for sex. This is not a horror movie: it’s the digital world that our children occupy. We must save kids from this online Wild West. 1/16
Mathieu Lefèvre on X: "Imagine a world without TikTok? New report out this week by @moreincommon on perceptions of smartphones and social media in the US, UK, France and Germany. A 🧵#thread of key findings and graphs… https://t.co/GfEIc3UK9L" / X (twitter.com)
Michelle Donelan MP on X: "Students like these all tell me the same thing: they are sick of being exposed to harmful and illegal content online. That is why I have so passionately driven forward the Online Safety Act - so that the UK becomes the safest place in the world to be a child online.