Social media sites ‘must do more’ to protect children
Although Brian O’Neill says Facebook and Google are improving the way they respond to complaints from schools, parents and children, he believes more can be done. He has written an EU report with recommendations for children, parents, schools, governments and industry based on research with pupils in 33 countries.
Among the recommendations of the study, launched this week at an international internet governance forum in Turkey, is that industry providers provide tools to allow children and teenagers remove content that may be damaging to their reputation or personal integrity.
On Monday, principals told a Dublin City University conference on cyberbullying that response times of social networking sites varies and some do not do enough to deal with complaints.
Mr O’Neill, as well as leading the EU Kids Online project, chaired the Internet Content Advisory Group whose report to Government was published in June. It said studies have endorsed actions by industry to date on dealing with complaints about online behaviour, but also found that not all companies participate, more transparency is needed about reporting, and safety standards could be improved.
“That has been one of the big concerns of child welfare people, that they don’t get a response when there’s damaging material online. There’s a specific call on industry to ensure there are different safety features,” said Mr O’Neill, head of research at Dublin Institute of Technology’s college of arts and tourism.
“They include the availability of reporting features, that they are responsive and go back to users, and that there is an interactive means of following through on complaints,” he said.
Mr O’Neill said Facebook invests in safety awareness, and others are also starting to respond better.
“Google have been in the middle of a storm over removing content because of a European court judgment, but they have broadly supported moves for under-18s, like providing additional protection,” he said.
The recent report to Government recommended setting up a National Council for Child Internet Safety, to be chaired by a minister or junior minister, with representatives from industry, public bodies, and youth and child protection groups. It suggested internet service providers and mobile phone networks be encouraged to offer parental control products and services.
Mr O’Neill said young people need support from their parents and teachers, as well as from industry, but also have to take responsibility for their own online behaviour.
“One of the best ways of achieving this is to encourage them to be more creative and digitally literate. Embracing safe, positive uses of technology has to be the ultimate goal,” he said.
The EU report recommends measures for children like sharing responsibility for others’ online safety, respecting age limits set for online services, and asking parents or trusted adults for help if they are bullied.
Moves to deter young children from taking part in risky internet behaviour appear to be paying off as fewer are using Facebook or other social network sites than four years ago.
In a trend that contradicts what is happening in other EU countries, except in the UK, the proportion of Irish children aged nine to 12 with social network profiles is on the decrease.
The number of nine- and 10-year-olds here active on Facebook or other networking sites is 14%, down by over a third from 20% in 2010, and much lower than the 25% across the EU.
For those in the 11-to-12 age category, a similar drop was seen — from 50% to 39% in the EU Kids Online results published late last year.
Across the EU, an average of over half of this age group used social networks.
“Greater awareness of risks for underage users and education interventions are likely to have contributed to the decrease here,” said Brian O’Neill of Dublin Institute of Technology, and head of the project.
The research network’s latest report urges industry providers to ensure age limits they set are meaningful and effective, and that they use verification where possible. Facebook is used by 22% of the EU’s nine and 10-year-olds surveyed, and 53% of those aged 11 and 12.
But while Irish children’s access to some sites is dropping, they are also exposed to more risks when they are online. The number who reported being upset by something they had seen online almost doubled, from 11% to 20%, since 2010.
“Young people report coming across more hate messages, pro-anorexia sites, and to a lesser degree pornography, cyber- bullying and meeting online contacts offline.”
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