Parents urged to be vigilant about children’s online safety over Christmas
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Parents urged to be vigilant about children’s online safety over Christmas

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Parents have been urged to remain vigilant about their children’s online safety over the Christmas period, after new research showed many parents relax their online rules. Internet Matters is highlighting its My Family Digital Toolkit, which can offer personalised online safety advice based on a child’s age, the apps and devices they use, to help parents quickly and easily set up online safety features to protect their children. We want to give parents one less thing to worry about, so parents can use My Family’s Digital Toolkit, which offers straightforward and easy-to-follow advice, to help keep kids safe online during the festive season and beyond Carolyn Bunting, Internet Matters Carolyn Bunting, co-chief executive of Internet Matters, said: “Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for parents, and it is easy for some of the usual rules to go out of the window, for parents and for children. “We want to give parents one less thing to worry about, so parents can use My Family’s Digital Toolkit, which offers straightforward and easy-to-follow advice, to help keep kids safe online during the festive season and beyond.” Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “As the festive season approaches many families will be receiving new devices under the tree and with the usual work and school schedules on pause, screentime often increases.

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History of this topic

Is a phone for your kid on the holiday shopping list? Read this first
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Is a phone for your kid on the holiday shopping list? Read this first

CNN  

CNN — Your child has been asking for one for so long, and the holiday season might be the time –– especially if the gift will make this Christmas or Hanukkah magical. “Parents have an incredible opportunity to be influential in their children’s use of social media,” Everett said. “That’s why we want to do what we can to empower …

Is a phone for your kid on the holiday shopping list? Read this first
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Is a phone for your kid on the holiday shopping list? Read this first

CNN  

CNN — Your child has been asking for one for so long, and the holiday season might be the time –– especially if the gift will make this Christmas or Hanukkah magical. “Parents have an incredible opportunity to be influential in their children’s use of social media,” Everett said. “That’s why we want to do what we can to empower …

5 Tips to keep your child safe online: E-Safety guide for parents
3 weeks, 3 days ago

5 Tips to keep your child safe online: E-Safety guide for parents

India TV News  

As children spend increasing amounts of time online, parents face a growing challenge: ensuring their kids are safe in the vast and unfiltered virtual world. Screen time is a growing concern for parents Unchecked screen time could lead to mental and physical issues, like: Sleep disturbances Reduced physical activity Strain on eyes The Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends: No screen …

It’s Time to Make the Internet Safer for Kids
3 weeks, 6 days ago

It’s Time to Make the Internet Safer for Kids

Wired  

In the real world, we have more than a century of experience figuring out how to share the world with children in order to keep them safe while still allowing adults to engage in adult-only activities, particularly those involving sex, violence, and addictive substances. However, following the temperance movement’s efforts to publicize alcohol’s harmful effects on families, women, and children, …

New, strengthened Online Safety Act needed to protect children, charity says
1 month, 4 weeks ago

New, strengthened Online Safety Act needed to protect children, charity says

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Almost seven years after Molly’s death, we urgently need ministers …

Technology Secretary says firms must ‘bake’ safety at centre of new products
2 months, 1 week ago

Technology Secretary says firms must ‘bake’ safety at centre of new products

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Peter Kyle said Ofcom would be telling the US-based gaming …

Speed up laws to prevent children seeing harmful content online, Technology Secretary tells Ofcom
2 months, 1 week ago

Speed up laws to prevent children seeing harmful content online, Technology Secretary tells Ofcom

The Telegraph  

New laws to protect children from harmful online content such as suicide, self-harm and pornography must be introduced faster, the Technology Secretary has told Ofcom. In a letter to the head of the online regulator, Peter Kyle said it was “incredibly important” to introduce measures in the Online Safety Act “as soon as possible” amid concerns that they will not …

Urgent warning over children ‘doom scrolling’ for hours a day
2 months, 1 week ago

Urgent warning over children ‘doom scrolling’ for hours a day

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, …

Children ‘doom scrolling’ on phones for hours a day causing widespread harm – MP
2 months, 1 week ago

Children ‘doom scrolling’ on phones for hours a day causing widespread harm – MP

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Smartphones and the instant access they provide to harmful content …

6 Big Screen-Time Myths That Need To Be Busted
3 months ago

6 Big Screen-Time Myths That Need To Be Busted

Huff Post  

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, essentially, no screen time for babies under 18 months of age. “Achievement in a video game is so much easier and entertaining than studying for a test.” If your child is struggling in school or with their friends, that’s a bigger warning sign than going over their screen time limit, Kanojia said. “Our study …

I was sexually groomed online at age 12 - here's what I experienced that parents and kids must know
3 months, 2 weeks ago

I was sexually groomed online at age 12 - here's what I experienced that parents and kids must know

Daily Mail  

A victim of online grooming has come forward to share a warning to parents and kids about the dangers of the internet. But the stranger soon began exposing him to pornography and videos of self-harm Above, Haynes today attending a a protest at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California. As a 20-year-old college student, Haynes has come forward to tell his …

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday that is designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable for the harm that they cause. “It is past time to act.” The legislation is about allowing children, teens and parents “to …

LEGO Group launches activities to safeguard children's online safety
4 months, 3 weeks ago

LEGO Group launches activities to safeguard children's online safety

China Daily  

Children and their parents learn how to avoid potential online safety risks through the Build and Talk activities, a program launched by the LEGO Group. Brick toy maker the LEGO Group this summer has introduced its Build and Talk activities, a program to help parents and their children in China understand potential online safety risks and equip them with the …

US Senate passes bill to protect children from dangerous online content
4 months, 3 weeks ago

US Senate passes bill to protect children from dangerous online content

Al Jazeera  

The Bill was pushed by parents of children who died by suicide after online bullying or were harmed by online content. The United States Senate has overwhelmingly passed legislation designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable for the harm …

Senate to consider bills that aim to protect children and teenagers online
5 months ago

Senate to consider bills that aim to protect children and teenagers online

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Senate will consider legislation this week that aims to protect children from dangerous online content, moving forward with what could become the first sweeping new regulation of the tech industry in decades. On this issue, we desperately need to catch up.” The online safety bill, which the Senate will consider along with a separate bill to update …

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate
5 months ago

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate

Associated Press  

The last time Congress passed a law to protect children on the internet was in 1998 — before Facebook, before the iPhone and long before today’s oldest teenagers were born. KOSA would create a “duty of care” — a legal term that requires companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm — for online platforms minors will likely use. Even …

Campaign to protect children online
5 months, 1 week ago

Campaign to protect children online

China Daily  

Campaign to protect children online China's top internet regulator has launched a two-month campaign to protect children online during the summer vacation, targeting e-commerce predators and inappropriate content. The crackdown follows a controversy last year that occurred when China Central Television exposed e-commerce platforms selling nude scale model toys to children age 7 to 14. A report on juvenile internet …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

The Hindu  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

Meta, Google leading $1m lobbying efforts to oppose NY online safety for children bills
7 months ago

Meta, Google leading $1m lobbying efforts to oppose NY online safety for children bills

Op India  

Tech behemoths like Meta and Google have spent about $1.5 million combating strategies in the United States aimed at protecting children online. The SAFE Act would prohibit social media platforms from using recommendation algorithms on children, requiring chronological feeds for persons aged 18 and less unless a parental agreement is obtained. A Meta spokeswoman stated that the tech giant would …

Online safety rules don’t go far enough, bereaved parents say
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Online safety rules don’t go far enough, bereaved parents say

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The intervention from the parents of 11 children, whose …

Younger children increasingly online and unsupervised, Ofcom says
8 months ago

Younger children increasingly online and unsupervised, Ofcom says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In its annual study of children’s relationship with the …

Quarter of children under seven own smartphones
8 months ago

Quarter of children under seven own smartphones

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In its annual study of children’s relationship with the media and online worlds, Ofcom said the number …

A guide to parenting in the digital age
9 months ago

A guide to parenting in the digital age

Live Mint  

It’s an odd choice of TV show to get parenting advice from, but one of my favourite moments during the first season of the spy thriller Mr and Mrs Smith is when Jane Smith starts talking to a man and his young son, immersed in his phone, at a bar. In her book, a guide to being a parent while …

Brianna Ghey’s mother says child online safety laws should be ‘more drastic’
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Brianna Ghey’s mother says child online safety laws should be ‘more drastic’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I think that mobile phones have a lot to answer …

Majority of boys aged 11-14 ‘exposed to online content that promotes misogyny’
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Majority of boys aged 11-14 ‘exposed to online content that promotes misogyny’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Every parent knows being online …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

Social media CEOs got grilled by Senate lawmakers this week in an emotional and often heated hearing about the dangers their platforms pose to children — sexual predators, videos encouraging suicide and glorifying eating disorders, bullying and addictive features, just to name a few. To comply, social media companies have generally banned kids under 13 from signing up for their …

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok CEOs face tough questions on child safety online I Watch LIVE proceedings
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok CEOs face tough questions on child safety online I Watch LIVE proceedings

India TV News  

California: The CEOs of top social media apps and video streaming platforms including Meta, TikTok, X and others are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about child exploitation on their platforms, as lawmakers, families and advocates are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives. So independent regulation needs to step in.” Facebook to face …

How to protect your children from inappropriate websites? Guide
11 months, 4 weeks ago

How to protect your children from inappropriate websites? Guide

India TV News  

We are all around the smart devices like smartphones, smart TVs, smartwatches and more are part of our everyday life. These days, children are drawn towards gadgets, which makes it very important for parents to safeguard kids from any inappropriate online content, which has been floating all across the internet. Regular and open communication with the kids Parents must foster …

Teens and Screens: How parents can manage online content on their child's device
1 year ago

Teens and Screens: How parents can manage online content on their child's device

India Today  

Technology has become ubiquitous over time, keeping us informed and connected to the world like never before. But for parents, this new digital world can be a bit of a mystery, especially when it comes to managing their kids’ screen time and content consumption. Teens and Screens: Ways parents can manage online content for their children’s devices STRATEGIES FOR FINDING …

FTC proposes strengthening children’s online privacy rules to address tracking, push notifications
1 year ago

FTC proposes strengthening children’s online privacy rules to address tracking, push notifications

Associated Press  

The Federal Trade Commission is proposing sweeping changes to a decades-old law that regulates how online companies can track and advertise to children, including turning off targeted ads to kids under 13 by default and limiting push notifications. The federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, requires kid-oriented apps and websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information …

UK Government Considers Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s
1 year ago

UK Government Considers Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: The UK government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is contemplating potential restrictions on social media access for teenagers below the age of 16 in a bid to safeguard them from online harm. Despite the implementation of the Online Safety Act, mandating social media platforms to shield minors from harmful content or face fines up to 10% of global …

Avoid helicopter parenting in the age of digital surveillance
1 year, 2 months ago

Avoid helicopter parenting in the age of digital surveillance

Live Mint  

Last spring, my tween was begging for more freedom, starting with being allowed to walk home from school alone. “The culture of surveillance is shaping our children’s sense of identity and independence—and impacting our mental health, our family’s connectedness, and our ability to self-define in adulthood," Heitner writes. The solution, therefore, is simple: Parents just need to be more on …

Are your kids overdosing on digital media? Recognising signs of overuse and how parents can help
1 year, 5 months ago

Are your kids overdosing on digital media? Recognising signs of overuse and how parents can help

Hindustan Times  

In today's digital age, children are increasingly exposed to screens and digital media. While technology offers numerous benefits, it's crucial for parents to be aware of the signs of digital media overuse and its potential impact on their children's well-being. Digital devices attract children because this device outbursts dopamine, so parents must be aware of the consequences of excessive screen …

Talking to your kids is key in this online world
1 year, 5 months ago

Talking to your kids is key in this online world

Hindustan Times  

The relationship with social media is one of the top five issues parents bring into conversations, in the clinic and with each other, and across socio-economic platforms. The ideal and most effective form of gatekeeping is to collaborate with other parents in your child’s social group and delay the introduction or access to social media platforms. “Wait until 8th” is …

Digital parenting: Addressing the challenges of raising children in the digital age
1 year, 5 months ago

Digital parenting: Addressing the challenges of raising children in the digital age

Hindustan Times  

In today's digital era, parenting has taken on a whole new set of challenges. With the omnipresence of technology and the widespread use of digital devices, raising children in the digital age requires careful consideration and proactive guidance. Addressing the challenges of raising children in the digital age "At 6:30 am, I woke up thanks to the cacophony of the …

8 tips for parents and teens on social media use — from the US surgeon general
1 year, 7 months ago

8 tips for parents and teens on social media use — from the US surgeon general

Associated Press  

The U.S. surgeon general is calling for tech companies and lawmakers to take “immediate action” to protect kids’ and adolescents’ mental health on social media. TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS — Create a family media plan: Agreed-upon expectations can help establish healthy technology boundaries at home – including social media use. A family media plan can promote open family discussion …

Safer Internet Day 2023: Things Every Parent Can Do To Keep Their Child Safe Online
1 year, 10 months ago

Safer Internet Day 2023: Things Every Parent Can Do To Keep Their Child Safe Online

News 18  

SAFER INTERNET DAY 2023: Safer Internet Day is celebrated on the second day of the second week of February annually. Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness regarding emerging online concerns. Here are a few ways you can keep your child safe online: Open communicationIt is crucial to start a conversation with children about their online interactions. Set ground rulesEstablish …

‘FOMO’: Diving Deep Into What Troubles Adolescents in the Age of Internet, Social Media
2 years ago

‘FOMO’: Diving Deep Into What Troubles Adolescents in the Age of Internet, Social Media

News 18  

It’s FOMO that has taken over adolescent minds today, which is forcing them to submit to peer pressure and consume alcohol, drugs as well as experiment with sexuality, experts said. From the language they speak to online material they read and material found in their possession like cash, drugs, and alcohol, children have been found to abuse their freedom, said …

How parents can help protect children from online ‘catfishing’ and other digital dangers
2 years ago

How parents can help protect children from online ‘catfishing’ and other digital dangers

LA Times  

Police say a law enforcement officer from Virginia catfished a teenage girl online, came to her suburban Riverside neighborhood and killed three of her family members before leaving with her in his vehicle. “We need to be talking to our kids about safety and making safe and smart decisions online,” said Callahan Walsh, a child advocate with the National Center …

Online Safety Bill to tackle ‘absurd situation’ of age limit verification
2 years ago

Online Safety Bill to tackle ‘absurd situation’ of age limit verification

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Changes to the Online Safety Bill will tackle the “absurd situation” …

Parenting Tips: Here’s How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online
2 years, 2 months ago

Parenting Tips: Here’s How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online

News 18  

Children spend a lot of time on the internet for various activities including their studies. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago, with almost everything moving online, the dependence of children on the internet has increased. As the kids are spending more time online it’s important for parents to keep a watch on them and monitor their …

Tools parents should know about to keep kids safe online
2 years, 2 months ago

Tools parents should know about to keep kids safe online

Hindustan Times  

Parents go to great lengths to protect their children. It's crucial for parents to be aware of their child's online activities and use certain tools and options to make sure their child has a safer online experience. Tools parents should know about to keep kids safe online In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Mansi Zaveri, Parenting Expert and Founder and …

California Protected Kids Online In A Way Every State Should Follow
2 years, 3 months ago

California Protected Kids Online In A Way Every State Should Follow

Huff Post  

David Espejo via Getty Images Companies collect users' data and use it to show them targeted advertising and content. Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, one of the bill’s lead sponsors, told HuffPost, “this is a very significant victory for kids and families.” The law comes down firmly on the side of children’s safety over profit, stating: …

California first with law protecting children’s online privacy
2 years, 3 months ago

California first with law protecting children’s online privacy

LA Times  

Facebook parent company Meta said it has concerns about some of the law’s provisions but shares lawmakers’ goal of keeping children safe online. He noted that as a father of four, “I’m familiar with the real issues our children are experiencing online.” The bill requires tech companies that provide online services attractive to children to follow age-appropriate design code principles …

Millions of parents leaving children online unsupervised, poll suggests
2 years, 3 months ago

Millions of parents leaving children online unsupervised, poll suggests

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We understand children also face social pressure to connect with …

The rising importance of parental control solutions and their security concerns
2 years, 4 months ago

The rising importance of parental control solutions and their security concerns

The Hindu  

How parental controls can protect children’s privacy online? Alphabet Family Link allows parents to set up a supervised account for their children by laying out digital ground rules for their child’s account, like restricting content, approving app downloads and purchases, setting screen time and more as their children learn, play and explore online. The app also allows to block or …

Should digital wellness be part of the school curriculum?
3 years, 4 months ago

Should digital wellness be part of the school curriculum?

Live Mint  

As the covid-19 pandemic forced schools in urban India to pivot to virtual classes, one found children spending an inordinate amount of time online. In fact, according to a new study by McAfee Corp—which focuses on personal security for consumers—89 per cent Indians believe that schools should educate children on online safety, with 62 per cent of the respondents wishing …

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