The Digital Child Newsletter - 25th April
Big News:
25% of children aged 5-7 now own a smartphone.
TikTok Lite springs up and is promptly suspended.
Children and their smartphones:
Starting them (too) young: New research by Ofcom, the U.K.'s regulatory body for online safety, has revealed that younger children are increasingly active online. A significant proportion actually own smartphones and are engaging, often unsupervised, in the digital sphere.
“Among children as young as 3 or 4 years old, some 84% are already going online, and nearly one-quarter of 5-7 year-olds surveyed already own their own smartphones.”
Other research by Ofcom shows that 20% of children aged 3-4 also have a phone…
Ofcom is exploring the potential of AI and automated tools to combat illegal content and protect children said harms. A consultation is now underway to see how AI and other automated tools could be used in the future to proactively detect and remove illegal content.
TikTok Lite:
No Lite-y: The European Commission has launched a probe into TikTok's Lite app, expressing concerns about its potential risks to users' mental health, especially children. The section of the app that's particularly concerned the EU is TikTok Lite's "Tasks and Rewards" where users over 18 can earn points through watching and liking videos, following TikTok creators, and referring people to the app. Users can then cash in these points for things like Amazon vouchers or TikTok coins, the in-app currency that lets you pay creators.
This comes as part of broader efforts to enforce stricter regulations on digital platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Around the World:
UK:
Shocking stats of abuse: The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reveals a disturbing trend of children as young as three being manipulated into acts of sexual abuse, with images and videos circulating on the open internet. With a growing portion of young children accessing social media without parental supervision, the report emphasizes the importance of age-appropriate conversations and a society-wide approach to online safeguarding.
“The opportunistic criminals who want to manipulate your children into disturbing acts of sexual abuse are not a distant threat – they are trying to talk to them now on phones and devices you can find in any family home.
Susie Hargreaves, chief executive of the IWF
Malaysia:
Work to be done: Malaysia's Deputy Communications Minister showcased existing child protection legislation and initiatives like the Klik Dengan Bijak program to promote safe internet usage. However, whilst no specific laws restrict social media access for children under 13, authorities urge parents to monitor and report underage accounts. Currently, there is collaboration with platforms like TikTok and Meta to enhance safety features, but the need for enforceable laws still remains.
Key Quote: "While setting a minimum age limit of 13 for social media use is reasonable, a law has to be enacted to ensure it is enforced."
Emma Rahim, rawSEC public communication secretariat staff
Ghana:
Partnering for protection: The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ghana Internet Safety Foundation (GISF). This formalised collaboration is there to bolster internet safety and combat online threats in Ghana.
Founded in 2014, the GISF is a grassroots-oriented non-profit organisation registered by the Government of Ghana. The foundation “focusses on security awareness training, supporting online victims, recovering from pornography addiction and managing digital footprints”
Ireland:
Positive reports across the Irish sea: Fine Gael Senator Joe O’Reilly emphasised the urgent need for the Council of Europe's member states to adopt a legal framework prioritizing the safety of children online. His report on "The protection of children against online violence" highlights the escalating threat posed by digital environments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In it he advocates for effective age verification measures, parental awareness campaigns, and educational programs on digital literacy.
"We have to address a pressing reality; the safety of our children online is constantly under fire. The internet, while a great source of knowledge and creativity, has become a breeding ground for violence, exploitation, and abuse."
Senator Joe O’Reilly
Europe:
Very large platforms, listen in: Adult content platforms Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos must undergo risk assessment reports and implement measures to address systemic risks associated with their services to adhere to new EU online content regulations. Designated as “very large online platforms” under the DSA, these companies must, among other things, submit risk assessment reports and implement mitigation measures. Failure to comply may result in fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover. About time if you ask us.
USA:
The battle continues: The US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce held a hearing titled “Legislative Solutions to Protect Kids Online and Ensure Americans’ Data Privacy Rights.”
This comes in the light of a sweep of recent legislative actions such as the potential influence of the Chinese government over TikTok, draft legislation for The American Privacy Rights Act of 2024 (APRA), and the introduction of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the House.
Arkansas and New Orleans:
Know2Protect: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has initiated the Know2Protect campaign in partnership with various public and private entities to raise awareness about online child sexual exploitation and abuse. As part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, landmarks across Arkansas will display Know2Protect colours or graphics starting April 18.
"The Know2Protect campaign shines a light on a truly horrendous crime that is unfortunately all too common. With the authority and responsibility for enforcing more than 400 federal statutes, HSI special agents are uniquely positioned to fight child exploitation, both within the United States and around the world."
HSI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Shein
Top Tweets:
Thierry Breton on X: "Is social media "lite" as addictive and toxic as cigarettes "light"? We have just sent a request for information regarding the launch of #TikTokLite. We will spare no effort to protect minors under the #DSA.
Derek Thompson on X: "New paper from Norway: Banning smartphones in school - significantly decreased doctors visits for psychological symptoms and diseases among girls - reduced bullying among both genders - improved girls’ GPA and attendance rates - largest effect sizes were among the poorest kids
Laila Mickelwait on X: "Last week ANOTHER class action lawsuit was filed against P*rnhub. This time they’re sued for a longstanding practice of obtaining without consent and exploiting the private data of millions of users for profit. Bankrupt P*rnhub