#online-safety

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Education
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

UK teachers and parents urged to talk to children about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes

UK educators and parents must proactively discuss Jeffrey Epstein's crimes with children to prevent them seeking information from unsafe online sources.
#social-media-regulation
fromFortune
2 months ago
Privacy professionals

Australia wants to end the era of kids on social media with international ban hailed as 'first domino' in global movement | Fortune

fromFortune
2 months ago
Privacy professionals

Australia wants to end the era of kids on social media with international ban hailed as 'first domino' in global movement | Fortune

Tech industry
fromFast Company
1 week ago

Mark Zuckerberg said very little on his first day of testimony-but the fact he's here at all is a major moment

A bellwether trial tests whether social media platforms' algorithmic design caused user harm and could erode Section 230 protections and force internal disclosures.
fromTheregister
1 week ago

UK to force social media to remove abusive pics in 48 hours

The government announced today that it would add an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill requiring platforms to "remove this content no more than 48 hours after it is flagged to them." Platforms that do not do so would potentially face fines of 10 percent of "qualifying worldwide income" or have their services blocked in the UK. The amendment follows outrage over the Elon Musk-owned chatbot Grok's willingness to generate nude or sexualized images of people, mainly women and girls, which forced a climbdown
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

Tech firms must remove revenge porn' in 48 hours or risk being blocked

UK proposals would force tech firms to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours or face fines up to 10% of global revenue or service blocking.
US politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

Ofcom to speed up decision on rules over blocking illegal images online

Ofcom is fast-tracking rules requiring tech companies to block illegal intimate images and use hash-matching, with measures expected to take effect this summer.
Miscellaneous
fromwww.dw.com
1 week ago

Shein faces EU investigation over products, design features

The European Commission opened formal Digital Services Act proceedings against Shein over addictive design, opaque recommender systems, and sales of illegal products including child sexual abuse material.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

What social media restrictions has Keir Starmer announced?

Starmer has announced a consultation into setting a minimum age for social media. Before that consultation takes place, however, ministers will write a clause into the existing children's wellbeing and schools bill that will enable them to enforce a ban quickly, if that's what the consultation recommends. These so-called Henry VIII powers allow the government to use secondary legislation to enforce an age limit, rather than writing an entirely new bill.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 weeks ago

How could a UK social media ban for under-16s work?

Sir Keir Starmer plans swift online-safety measures to restrict smartphone and social media use for children under 16, launching a consultation within months.
UK politics
fromTheregister
2 weeks ago

Starmer declares months timeline for social media age limits

The UK government plans to introduce a minimum social media age and powers to restrict addictive features like infinite scroll, with consultation starting in March.
#child-protection
fromBrooklyn Paper
1 month ago
Brooklyn

Hochul backs Stop Online Predators Act in 2026 budget to protect kids online * Brooklyn Paper

New York proposes stricter laws requiring age verification, default privacy protections, parental controls, and penalties to prevent online child exploitation on social and gaming platforms.
fromIrish Independent
3 months ago
Miscellaneous

'Many children saw Charlie Kirk's murder' - young people still being exposed to inappropriate content despite new regulations, committee hears

Children remain exposed to inappropriate online content despite increased efforts to tackle harmful algorithms and safeguard against violent material.
fromIrish Independent
3 months ago
Miscellaneous

'Many children saw Charlie Kirk's murder' - young people still being exposed to inappropriate content despite new regulations, committee hears

fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 weeks ago

No online platform gets free pass' when it comes to child safety, says Starmer

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
World news
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

No free pass for internet platforms on child safety, Starmer says

The UK will introduce laws and rapid-response powers to hold online platforms accountable for children's safety, limit harmful features, and preserve children's social media data.
#age-verification
EU data protection
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

TikTok told to change 'addictive design' by EU or face massive fines

The EU ordered TikTok to alter addictive design features like autoplay and infinite scroll or face fines under the Digital Services Act.
fromSilicon Canals
3 weeks ago

The online dating reality for women over 55 that nobody talks about honestly - Silicon Canals

Here's something that might surprise you: older women often get bombarded with messages on dating apps. But before you think "that sounds great," let me explain why it's actually exhausting. According to the Pew Research Center, "Women are five times as likely as men to think they were sent too many messages." For women over 55, this often translates into dozens of generic "hey beautiful" messages from men who clearly haven't read their profiles, mixed with inappropriate comments about their appearance or worse, explicit photos nobody asked for.
Relationships
#safer-internet-day
fromIrish Independent
3 weeks ago

Taoiseach criticises X for 'concerning' and 'disrespectful' decision not to appear in front of Dail committee

X will not attend despite calls for it to face questioning about its AI tool Grok, which has been accused of generating images of sexual abuse, including that of children The Taoiseach has labelled the decision by X not to attend a communications committee hearing as as "concerning" and "disrespectful". Representatives from Meta, TikTok and Google are to appear in front of the Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport today.
Miscellaneous
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Outrage' is driving rapid social media law changes Baroness Kidron

Donations fund on-the-ground, paywall-free journalism covering reproductive rights, climate change, Big Tech, and child online safety, enabling investigations and broader public access.
#social-media-ban
Careers
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

I Thought My New Potential Client Was Strange. But What She Did After Our Call Was Unhinged.

A freelancer encounters a potentially unstable client who publicly disparages applicants and misrepresents communications, creating safety, professionalism, and boundary concerns.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

As a parent and a Conservative I know that banning social media for under-16s is the right thing to do | Kemi Badenoch

Children need protection from harmful online content; Conservatives propose banning smartphones in schools and social media for under-16s to safeguard development.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

AI learning tools different' to phones in schools Bridget Phillipson

Government treats AI learning tools as distinct from phones, promotes AI's educational potential while seeking standards, age checks, limits on screen time, and online-safety measures.
US politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Doomscrolling breaks and curfews considered as part of social media crackdown plans

A three-month government consultation will consider banning social media for under-16s and raising the digital age of consent to better protect children online.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

UK ministers launch consultation into whether to ban social media for under-16s

Government launches consultation on banning under-16s from social media and proposes curbs on mobile phone use, school bans, and limits on addictive platform features.
Artificial intelligence
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Catherine Prasifka: Internet has evolved from an empathy machine to an echo chamber where weird men use AI to undress women

Grok is flooding social feeds with AI-generated, non-consensual sexualised images of women and children, marking a dangerous point of no return for online spaces.
#deepfakes
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago
UK politics

State Department Threatens UK Over Grok Investigation, Because Only The US Is Allowed To Ban Foreign Apps - Above the Law

fromAbove the Law
1 month ago
UK politics

State Department Threatens UK Over Grok Investigation, Because Only The US Is Allowed To Ban Foreign Apps - Above the Law

Gadgets
fromTechCrunch
1 month ago

YouTube now has a way for parents to block kids from watching Shorts | TechCrunch

YouTube adds parental controls to limit kids' time on Shorts, block Shorts, set Bedtime/Take a Break reminders, and simplify account switching.
Artificial intelligence
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Young people, parents and teachers: share your views about Grok AI

AI image-generation tools like Grok are being used to create and circulate non-consensual sexualized images of women and children, raising urgent safety and consent concerns.
Miscellaneous
fromIrish Independent
1 month ago

AI Minister Niamh Smyth says X should be banned if it does not abide by Irish law

Grok AI's use to create nudified images of women and children is prompting government pressure for tougher action and potential banning of X for noncompliance.
#roblox
#ofcom
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

UK threatens action against X over sexualised AI images of women and children

X faces potential UK regulatory action, including a possible ban, after its AI tool Grok generated sexualised images of women and children; safety deemed insufficient.
#ai-deepfakes
Social media marketing
fromThred Website
1 month ago

Content concern sees X lose 60% of its revenue in the UK

X's UK revenue collapsed 60% in 2025 after advertisers fled over Grok-enabled mass sexually explicit deepfakes and associated safety and reputational risks.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

The Guardian view on Ofcom versus Grok: chatbots cannot be allowed to undress children. | Editorial

AI image generation tools are producing sexualised and illegal images of women and children, requiring urgent regulatory action and stronger platform safeguards.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

New law set to protect dating app users from vile crime' of cyberflashing

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
UK politics
New York Rangers
fromNew York Family
1 month ago

Big Changes for NY Families in 2026: Federal Child Care Funds Frozen and New Online Safety Protections

New York will advance the Stop Online Predators Act while federal child care funds have been frozen in some states, creating uncertainty for families.
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Parents of Ireland Survey reveals rising concern over children's mental health, cost of living and use of mobile phones

The Parents of Ireland Survey 2026 gathered responses from 1,878 parents of school-going children nationwide, offering a detailed snapshot of Irish family life
Parenting
Mental health
fromFuturism
2 months ago

Children Falling Apart as They Become Addicted to AI

A large share of U.S. teens use AI chatbots, and unmoderated LLM-driven characters can create serious mental-health risks for children.
Privacy professionals
fromIndependent
2 months ago

AI-generated sex abuse images being used to blackmail children online, Dail committee told

Young people face rising risk from AI-generated images and deepfakes used for sexual extortion after personal information is mined online.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

UK to ban deepfake AI 'nudification' apps

The UK will criminalize creation and distribution of AI "nudification" apps to prevent non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes and intimate image abuse.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

UK sex offenders may have to tell police about social media and dating accounts

Registered sex offenders must notify police of social media and dating accounts or face up to five years in jail.
Artificial intelligence
fromScary Mommy
2 months ago

Nearly One In Three Teens Use An AI Chatbot Every Day

Many teens regularly use AI chatbots, especially ChatGPT; parents should educate them because chatbots can escalate harmful ideas and harm mental health.
Privacy professionals
fromBusiness Insider
2 months ago

My husband and I decided not to post our son's face on social media. It has its challenges, but we think it's worth it.

Parents avoided posting their newborn's face online to protect the child's future consent and limit risks like identity theft, bullying, and an imposed digital narrative.
World news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Reddit launches high court challenge to Australia's under-16s social media ban

Reddit has filed a High Court challenge to Australia’s under-16 social media ban, arguing it forces intrusive verification and infringes implied political communication freedom.
#parenting
fromIndependent
3 months ago
Parenting

Dear Mary: My 18-year-old daughter wants to dress up in sexy 'lingerie' like Taylor Swift for Christmas nights out and I worry for her reputation

fromIndependent
3 months ago
Parenting

Dear Mary: My 18-year-old daughter wants to dress up in sexy 'lingerie' like Taylor Swift for Christmas nights out and I worry for her reputation

UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 months ago

Porn review boss urges further crackdown on extreme content

Baroness Bertin calls to outlaw extreme online incest and child sexual-abuse scenarios played by adults and urges legislative amendments to close loopholes permitting harmful material.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Young people have faced violent indifference' for decades, Lisa Nandy says

A national Youth Matters strategy with £500m will expand youth services, online-safety education, and trusted-adult access to reduce isolation and political disengagement among young people.
#australia
Law
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Boy who abused young sister was viewing pornography online from age six

Unsupervised internet access enabled a 13-year-old's sexual abuse and online dissemination of 64 identifiable images of his six-year-old sister.
Privacy technologies
fromHollywood Life
3 months ago

Inside the New Trend: How AI Is Being Used to Check People's Social Media Before You Even Meet Them

Publicly available online activity can be aggregated to create detailed behavioral profiles used for vetting, safety, and assessing authenticity.
fromwww.bbc.com
3 months ago

Ofcom vows to 'name and shame' over online sexism

It's about making reporting much easier so that you can report multiple accounts that are abusing you at the same time rather than having to do them one by one, which is absolutely soul destroying,
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 months ago

Ofcom urges social media platforms to combat abuse and limit online pile-ons'

The guidance from Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, to combat misogynist abuse, coercive control and the sharing of intimate images without consent comes into force on Tuesday and includes recommendations to prevent women being harried online. The measures suggest tech companies enforce limits on the number of responses to posts on platforms such as X, in a move that Ofcom hopes will reduce pile-ons, where individual users are deluged with abusive replies to their posts.
Miscellaneous
fromPsychology Today
3 months ago

Digital Literacy Starts at Home

Children and teens are surrounded by technology, and it is imperative to set them up for success. Developing digital literacy among youth is a critical part of child-rearing today. Digital literacy, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO; 2018) is "the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate and create information safely and appropriately through digital technologies." There are many areas of competence within digital literacy, one of which is safety (UNESCO, 2018).
Digital life
World news
fromFuturism
3 months ago

China Is Cracking Down on AI Slop

China is enforcing comprehensive regulations to curb AI-generated misinformation, harmful synthetic imagery, impersonation, and abuse, shifting responsibility to tech companies.
Digital life
fromTelecompetitor
3 months ago

Seniors Learning How to Use, Protect Their Digital Devices: Report

Nearly all seniors 65+ consider themselves somewhat to extremely digitally literate and use devices for shopping, finance, social media, streaming, gaming, and online safety.
EU data protection
fromComputerWeekly.com
3 months ago

Who is really accountable for the online safety gap? | Computer Weekly

Public trust in online safety and data protection is eroding, creating an accountability gap and forcing complex regulatory and business trade-offs.
Public health
fromScary Mommy
3 months ago

A Group Of Doctors Said What They Would Never Let Their Children Do

Children should avoid year-round sports, unsupervised internet use, helmet-less scootering, unprotected sun exposure, and unverified supplements.
fromPsychology Today
3 months ago

Could Your Kink Be Misunderstood by Law Enforcement?

Since the early days of the internet, with AOL chatrooms and online bulletin boards, there have been unhealthy, dangerous, and predatory individuals who used these electronic environments to act inappropriately towards minors. Children and adolescents have received disturbing sexual comments and solicitations from online creeps. Sometimes, these individuals would attempt to meet up with the children, even sometimes traveling across the country to meet the child in person.
Law
fromSocial Media Today
4 months ago

Australia Launches Ads for Coming Teen Social Media Restrictions

"There's evidence between social media use and harms to the mental health and wellbeing of young people. While there can be benefits in social media use, the risk of harms may be increased for young people as they do not yet have the skills, experience or understanding to navigate complex social media environments."
Mental health
World news
fromInStyle
4 months ago

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Have a Hilariously Adorable Habit When Prince Harry Is in a Meeting

Prince Harry says his children frequently interrupt virtual meetings to greet participants while he and Meghan juggle parenting and public charitable work.
US politics
fromThe Verge
4 months ago

A contentious kids safety bill might be getting gutted - and nobody's happy

The Kids Online Safety Act may return without its duty of care provision, changing platform liability and reigniting disputes about online safety and content removal.
Marketing
fromThe Drum
4 months ago

Mars, Adidas and Lidl among brands that have pulled ads from YouTube in light of paedophilia fears

Major brands including Mars, Adidas, Lidl and Deutsche Bank paused YouTube advertising after ads appeared alongside child-produced videos exploited by predatory commenters.
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