Viewers of online abuse at high risk of contacting children directly

  • A report published in the Journal of Online Trust and Safety published results of the largest survey of people who watch child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.
  • The survey found that 42% of respondents had sought out direct contact with children through online platforms after viewing CSAM.
  • 58% reported feeling afraid that viewing CSAM might lead them to seek direct contact.
  • You can read the full story on The Guardian’s website.

Child abuse images helpline sees number of calls double

  • The Stop It Now! Helpline has seen an increase in the number of people calling with concerns about their own behaviour or that of someone close to them.
  • The number of calls in 2021 reached 165,225, representing an increase of 79,868 from the previous year.
  • Those seeking help reported that increased isolation, unemployment, and a rise in the amount of pornography they were viewing fuelled the offending.
  • You can read the full story on The Belfast Telegraph’s website.

TikTok expands maximum video length to 10 minutes

  • TikTok is expanding the maximum length of videos to 10 minutes on the platform.
  • The update will roll out globally with some users receiving a notification about the update already.
  • For information on how to keep safe on TikTok, check out our safety card.
  • You can read the full story on The Verge’s website.

Instagram to stop supporting the IGTV app

  • Instagram will stop reporting the separate IGTV app.
  • Instagram also announced that videos on the main app will have a full-screen viewer and a tap-to-mute button.
  • Instagram are also working on a consistent way to share the different types of videos (such as video posts and Reels).
  • You can read the full story on The Verge’s website.

‘Hidden homelessness’ affecting more than 110,000 people

  • A new report finds that “hidden homelessness” may be affecting more than 110,000 people in NI.
  • Hidden homelessness refers to people who are not sleeping rough but have no permanent home.
  • The report finds that certain groups are more vulnerable to become hidden homeless, including young people, the LGBTQ+ community and domestic violence survivors.
  • You can read the full story on The Belfast Telegraph’s website.