Internet Matters releases Children’s Wellbeing in a Digital World report

  • Internet Matters have released their Index Report on Children’s Wellbeing in a Digital World.
  • The report provides an overview of the impact of technology on the wellbeing of children of different ages, genders, and demographic backgrounds.
  • You can access the full report through the Internet Matters website.
  • You can also catch an interview by our CEO, Jim Gamble on the GB News Twitter.

Child sexual exploitation underreported with authorities struggling to keep pace

  • A report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has found that authorities are struggling to keep up with the changing nature of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).
  • CSE is becoming more of a hidden problem and being increasingly underreported when linked to other forms of criminal behaviour such as county lines.
  • Professional language around CSE describes children being “at risk” despite clear evidence of actual harm having occurred.
  • You can read the full story and access the report through the IICSA website.

Online trolls could face two years in jail

  • Posting messages online which are “likely to cause harm” could be punishable by two years in jail under the new “duty of care” offences.
  • Any message or post where the sender was “aware of” or “intended harm” to someone would be classified as an offence and would not require proof that someone was harmed.
  • The offences will form part of the new Online Harms Bill which will place a duty of care on social media companies to protect children.
  • You can read the full story through the Telegraph.

Android Messages beta starts displaying iOS Message reactions

  • A beta feature is being rolled out on the Android messaging app to interpret emoji reactions to messages sent from the iOS Messages app.
  • This fixes a long-standing issue for SMS chats between Apple and Android users.
  • Without the feature, an Android user typically receives a separate message telling them an iOS user reacted to a message.
  • You can read the full story through The Verge.

PSNI’s domestic abuse alert scheme extended to 77 additional schools

  • A scheme to alert schools if their pupils have been affected by domestic violence is being extended to a further 77 schools in Northern Ireland.
  • Operation Encompass aims to help children affected by domestic violence by getting them immediate support from staff in their school.
  • If the PSNI attends an incident where a child is present, school staff responsible for safeguarding will be informed before the start of the next school day.
  • You can read the full story through the BBC.