The US and UK have announced their first joint agreement aimed at keeping children safer online, sparking both praise and criticism from various groups.
The agreement will establish a joint online safety working group to share evidence and expertise, focusing on the impact social media has on children. UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle hailed the partnership as a step towards creating a safer online world for the next generation.
However, not everyone is convinced of the agreement’s effectiveness. Campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood criticized the initiative as insufficient, arguing that parents cannot afford to wait and see if it makes a difference when their children’s futures are at stake.
On the other hand, some experts believe that more research is needed to understand the impact of social media on children’s wellbeing before implementing policies. Prof Pete Etchells of Bath Spa University emphasized the importance of evidence-based guidelines to support young people in navigating the digital world.
The UK government acknowledged the lack of research on the causal impact of social media on children and committed to exploring ways to provide researchers with more data from big tech firms. The joint statement between the US and UK highlighted the need for tech platforms to do more to protect children, especially as online platforms become increasingly integral to children’s lives.
While the UK’s Online Safety Act imposes duties on online platforms to safeguard children, the full implementation of the legislation is still pending. Guidance for firms on compliance is being developed by the communications regulator Ofcom.
As the debate continues on how best to protect children online, the joint agreement between the US and UK represents a significant step towards addressing the challenges posed by the digital world.
