Clare Daly CIPP/E’s Post

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, but its impact on children raises significant ethical questions. The recent ban in Australia, prohibiting minors under 16 from using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, highlights the growing concern over the mental health and well-being of young people. While social media offers opportunities for connection and learning, it also exposes children to risks such as cyberbullying, addiction, and exposure to harmful content. The Australian government's decision aims to protect children from these harms, but it also sparks debates about privacy, freedom, and the role of parental consent. What are your thoughts on this ban? Do you think it's a step in the right direction, or does it go too far? #EthicsTechForum

#SEXTORTION #Awareyourteenagercousins In today's digital age, teenagers are more connected than ever, but with this connectivity comes potential risks, one of the most alarming being sextortion. The methods used by perpetrators of sextortion are cunning and insidious. They may create fake online personas to gain the trust of unsuspecting teenagers, engage them in intimate conversations or exchanges, and then threaten to share the content publicly or with their friends and family unless more explicit material is provided. The psychological toll on victims can be devastating, leading to feelings of shame, guilt, and fear of social repercussions. Parents and guardians play a crucial role in safeguarding their children’s from falling victim to sextortion. Open communication about online safety, including the dangers of sharing personal information and engaging in inappropriate conversations or activities, is paramount. Ultimately, combating sextortion requires a collective effort from parents, educators, law enforcement, and tech companies to create a safer online environment for teenagers. By raising awareness, providing education, and implementing proactive measures, we can work together to protect our youth from the devastating consequences of sextortion and empower them to navigate the digital world with confidence and resilience.

🚨 Breaking News: US Senate passes historic Kids Online Privacy Bill! 🚨 Exciting development in safeguarding our children's digital lives! The US Senate has just passed a few crucial bills aimed at enhancing online privacy protections for kids. The bills — the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, referred to as COPPA 2.0 — represent the most significant restrictions on tech platforms in decades. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner have already put protections and measures already in place under the Online Safety Act, including the Restricted Access System Declaration, the Basic Online Safety Expectations Determination and recently (July 1st) issued notices for the second phase of Industry codes and standards development. It's great to see how many significant steps are being made towards creating a safer internet environment for the younger generation on a global scale. #YoungLivesMatter #DigitalWellbeing #OnlineSafety https://lnkd.in/gKb-rZfa

The Children’s Commissioner’s recent report, “I’ve Seen Horrible Things: Children’s Experiences of the Online World,” is a sobering account of the widespread dangers children and young people face online. Drawing insights from over 367,000 respondents, the report highlights critical risks, including exposure to harmful content—such as pornography, abusive material, cyberbullying, and self-harm messaging—as well as algorithm-driven challenges that encourage addictive behaviours. The report emphasises the urgent need for stronger online safety measures to shield children from these pervasive digital harms, calling for immediate action from tech companies, government, and educators alike. Since the technology to protect children from exposure to harmful content already exists, we must ask why it’s not being deployed at pace. #OnlineSafety #KeepingChildrenSafeOnline #ChildProtection #AIforGood https://lnkd.in/eEHYntXe

So proud of my (now former but still wonderful 💙 💚 💛 ) Senator for passing landmark legislation to protect children online. Also, incredibly honored to have worked on this legislation for months and perhaps contributing maybe a tiny bit to it. Reminds me that nothing worth having is easy to get. Children and teens' online safety is more important than ever; with the widespread use of #ai and given that #algorithms are personal, protecting our youth is a priority for all of us who care about #tech being a force for good. "The legislation, approved 91-3, would force digital platforms to take “reasonable” steps to prevent harms to children such as bullying, drug addiction and sexual exploitation, and it would broaden existing federal privacy protections to include kids and teens 16 years old and younger. The bills — the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, referred to as COPPA 2.0 — represent the most significant restrictions on tech platforms to clear a chamber of Congress in decades." Link in comments. #responsibleai #responsibletech #childrensonlinesafety #algorithmsarepersonal

This week, Ofcom issued a stern warning to social media platforms that they could be named, shamed, and potentially banned if they fail to comply with new online safety rules that aim to protect children from harmful content. These measures are set to take effect in 2025, with the government emphasising that they will "will bring in a fundamental change in how children in the UK experience the online world." However, some argue they may not offer sufficient protection. This is a topic we’re particularly conscious of at OLS, following our fundraising efforts for organisations that support better mental health in a digital world. What do you think? Read the article below and share your thoughts with us. #digitalwellbeing #positivityproject #onlinesafety

The Children’s Commissioner for England has released a report examining children’s online experiences, drawing on insights from the extensive Big Ambition consultation. This consultation gathered responses from thousands of children and adults, offering a unique perspective on young people’s vulnerabilities and priorities in the digital world. The report's key findings reveal that children have concerns about a range of online dangers, such as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), highly sexualised content, abusive interactions and cyberbullying, as well as content related to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. The report goes beyond simply identifying these issues, also presenting children’s perspectives on the responsibilities of tech companies, government bodies, parents, and schools in creating safer online environments. Many young people are advocating for more proactive monitoring, improved safety features, and stricter age-appropriate content controls by tech platforms. You can access the full report here: https://lnkd.in/enViv_qF #onlinesafety #safeguarding

Intrigued to hear your thoughts on this - New York is taking a bold step to protect kids from the mental health risks of social media with new laws targeting "addictive" feeds. Starting in 2025, the SAFE for Kids Act will require apps like TikTok and Instagram to get parental consent before under-18s use them, restrict notifications between midnight and 6 am, and improve age verification. Additionally, the New York Child Data Protection Act will limit the personal data collected from young users. Governor Kathy Hochul believes these measures will create a safer digital environment, but experts are divided on their effectiveness and enforceability. While some applaud the move, others argue that the link between social media and mental health is more complex than it appears. I worry that such legislation might be difficult to enforce and could distract from addressing more pressing issues like privacy violations and harmful content. #SocialMedia #MentalHealth #SAFEAct #DigitalSafety

📢 Starting this week, new legislation I cosponsored to protect children from the harmful effects of social media takes effect📱 1️⃣ Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act (Bill A8148): This law prevents social media platforms from displaying addictive content to minors without parental consent. It also restricts late-night notifications, helping prioritize children’s mental health and well-being. 2️⃣ New York Child Data Protection Act (Bill A8149): This measure safeguards minors’ online privacy by limiting the collection and use of their personal data without explicit consent. These laws are a major step toward creating a safer and healthier digital space for our kids. Let’s keep working together to protect our children in today’s digital world! 🌐💪 #ChildSafety #OnlinePrivacy #ProtectOurKids

📰 Breaking News: Today, the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act passed the Senate with an overwhelming 91-3 vote. This is a tremendous moment for the health and safety of children online. The two bills in the package — known as the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA 2.0 — represent the most significant congressional action in decades to regulate social media’s impact on children and teens largely due to Kristin Bride and Amy Neville's advocacy amongst many other parents and youth orgs like #HALFTHESTORY and Design It For Us. The lopsided vote saw Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah, as the only no votes. This landmark legislation creates the most robust federal protections for kids online the United States has ever seen. It's been nearly 30 years since we last passed major legislation protecting our children. Kudos to all who have worked tirelessly to make this a reality. Together, we are making the digital world a safer place for our children. CHANGE IS HAPPENING! #ChildSafety #DigitalWellbeing #KidsOnlineSafety #PrivacyProtection https://lnkd.in/gfP4fnN8