Social media safety ratings to protect children from online harm

  • A study from Crest Advisory has recommended an official five-star rating system for social media platforms.
  • This study informed a new report called ‘Fixing Neverland’.
  • The rating system would be used to indicate how safe the platforms are for children.
  • Crest Advisory also recommended compulsory age verification and an alert system which would notify parents and others of threats on social media.
  • The report also highlighted that the links between harmful social media content seen by children and serious violence have been underestimated, following the murder of Olly Stephens, a 13-year-old boy.
  • The report comes as the Government prepare to reintroduce the Online Safety Bill to Parliament.
  • Read more about this on the Independent’s and the BBC’s website.

Google redesigns Family Link

  • Google has updated Family Link and Google TV for families to build healthy, positive digital habits together.
  • Family Link will be redesigned with an easier interface and new features, such as the ability to get alerted when children leave known locations like school and when they get home.
  • It also lets parents manage Android devices for their young people by setting screen time limits and more.
  • Family Link will supervise Google TV children’s programmes, as well as parent-managed watchlists.
  • Find out more on the Verge and Google

British Gymnastics to publish names of banned coaches

  • British Gymnastics will begin publishing the names of banned coaches as part of an action plan to reform the sport.
  • The action plan, entitled Reform ’25, is in response to the Whyte Review, an inquiry which exposed the extent of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the sport.
  • During the two-year review, there was submissions implicating more than 90 gymnastics clubs and 100 coaches.
  • To read more, go to the Telegraph’s website.