The three key actions
As the UK government consults on children’s access to social media, we’re setting out three key actions they must take to hold tech companies to account and keep children safe:
1) Make sure teens get genuinely age appropriate experiences – platforms must be safe before children can use them.
2) Stop platforms using addictive design tricks that leave young people feeling out of control.
3) Use the full force of the law to block illegal and harmful content e.g. nude images at the source across online services, including on devices and AI.
Children encountered harmful content
Children who were supported by Childline during the year described encountering inappropriate and harmful content, falling for online scams, being bullied online and worrying about their privacy on social media platforms.
They also shared reflections on their social media behaviour and sought advice on managing their screen time and online habits.
Of the 2,444 contacts about online child sexual abuse, young people spoke about topics such as:
- being scared that images of them would be shared
- being financially extorted, and the impact this form of abuse could have on their futures.
Many asked for support on how to speak to an adult about this.
One 14-year-old girl who contacted Childline said: “I met a guy online and he managed to get photos of me in my underwear. I didn’t send them to him, so I don’t know how he got them. He threatened to put my photos on adult websites if I don’t send him more photos. I’m so scared. I’ve reported him online and I’m wondering if I should go to the police too.”
