Global News

Every week we are seeing more and more reports about the harms, explore below: All articles linked to originals.

Teens exposed to weapons, violence & suicide content on social mediaA BBC investigation sees 13-15-year-olds shown posts about knives, bullying and death.

Teens are 'terminally online' and checking phones in lessonsOne head teacher is considering using locking magnetic pouches so pupils cannot use their phones.

'Toxic' phone use impacting 'struggling' students, study findsThe study found pupils who are struggling academically are more likely to see self harm content online.

BBC Report

From the BBC: Parents were found to have overestimated the problems their children were experiencing around being upset, ignored or left out and underestimated the extent children were accessing "disturbing" content on self harm, suicide and eating disorders.

Dr Knight said the discrepancy could be down to what young people "are and are not sharing with their parents".

"They could be thinking 'If my parents or teachers were aware of the extent to which I'm seeing certain content, then maybe they take my phone away'," he added.

“If we are serious about helping children reap the many benefits of the internet, we need to get serious about regulating what they can see, where they see it and curbing the damage currently being wreaked on their health, attention span and safety by tech companies enjoying unlimited freedoms while refusing to take responsibility for the people on their platforms.

Misogynistic content driving UK boys to hunt vulnerable girls on suicide forumsExclusive: Police set up taskforce to tackle online violence as young men seek victims on eating disorder forums

Social media algorithms ‘amplifying misogynistic content’Researchers say extreme content being pushed on young people and becoming normalised

Prince William gives insight into parenting as he reveals phone ruleThe Prince of Wales revealed that he and his wife Kate had imposed a 'strict' ban on mobile phones for Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.

Online harm protections should include focus on "addictive design", says campaigner - Jersey Evening Post“ADDICTIVE” algorithms that amplify “shocking” content to keep users engaged should be confronted as part of efforts to better protect children and young people online, according to a local campaigner. Emily Jennings, who is part of the Smartphone Free Childhood and Health Professionals for Safer Screens groups, made the comments following a Scrutiny panel’s review […]

Smartphones lead to ‘suicidal thoughts’ in children under 13, studyA new study shows that children under the age of 13 who had access to a smartphone were more likely to have suicidal thoughts, lower self-worth, and detachment from reality compared to their older peers.

A third of teachers reported pupil misogyny last week - surveyTeachers also told a survey commissioned by BBC News they feel ill-equipped to tackle the issue.

Social media: Teenage girls report more problematic use than boysOne in five girls aged between 13 and 15 reported problems compared with one in 10 boys that age.

Nearly quarter of children spend more than four hours a day on devices – pollThe Children’s Commissioner for England has called for ‘stronger action’ to protect young people from harmful content online.

Increased screen time linked to aggression, anxiety, low self-esteem in kids, study findsThe study looked at nearly 300,000 children around the world.

TikTok 'recommends sexual content and porn to children', says reportResearchers find TikTok's algorithm recommends sexual content to newly-created child accounts.

Children as young as nine exposed to pornographyThe consumption of pornography is widespread among children, the children's commissioner says.

One in 10 children ‘have watched pornography by time they are nine’Report by children’s commissioner for England finds worrying amount of content involves violence

Quarter of UK’s three- and four-year-olds own a smartphone, data showsCampaigners express concern at new Ofcom figures, which also show that half of under-13s are on social media

Nine-year-olds added to malicious WhatsApp groupsSchools warn thousands of parents on Tyneside about malicious group chats on the messaging app.

Meta covered up potential child harms, whistleblowers claimMeta denies the allegations and described the "claims at the heart" of the Senate hearing as "nonsense".

Primary pupils in Midlothian added to WhatsApp group with 'nude photo requests'Parents of children at Paradykes Primary School in Loanhead were urged to remove them from the group immediately.

Experts warn pre-school children's screen time at 'crisis point'Early years teachers say they have seen decline in speech and language skills linked to device use.

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