A new report from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner calls for action by government to help keep children and young people safe online.
With one third of internet users under the age of 18, and young people aged 12 to 15 spending over 20 hours a week online, the Commissioner says more needs to be done to equip young people with the resilience, skills and power they need to navigate their lives online. She is calling for:
- A digital citizenship programme for all children aged 4-14 to be made compulsory in every school
- Simplifying terms and conditions for digital services, such as Instagram, that many children use
- A new ombudsman to mediate with social media companies.
The Blagrave Trust funds a number of projects helping to equip young people with the skills they need to make a successful transition to adult life, including using the internet safely. This report provides more evidence, if more is needed, that young people need support from government to do this.
05/01/17