Ways to Ensure Children's Online Safety: Understanding and Utilizing Parental Controls

Parents' concerns about keeping their children safe online have been heightened following the murder of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old girl whose killers planned her murder using messaging apps. Brianna's mother, Esther, believes that the government should make it more difficult for young people to access potentially harmful content online. So, what can parents do to ensure their children's digital lives are as safe as possible? Research conducted by the communications regulator Ofcom shows that children between the ages of eight and 17 spend an average of two to five hours online each day, with older children spending more time online. Almost all children over the age of 12 have a mobile phone and most of them watch videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Furthermore, about four in five teenagers use AI tools like ChatGPT and Snapchat's MyAI. While about half of children over 12 believe that being online is beneficial for their mental health, there is still a significant minority that experiences negative effects. One in eight children aged eight to 17 reported instances of cyberbullying or hurtful behavior on social media or messaging apps. Additionally, the Children's Commissioner found that half of the 13-year-olds surveyed encountered explicit and misogynistic pornography on social media. To address these concerns, parents can take simple steps to protect their children online. Learning about and utilizing control functions is key. Internet Matters, a safety organization supported by major UK-based internet companies, provides a list of parental controls and step-by-step guides on how to use them. For example, parents can set up their children with the kid-friendly version of YouTube, which filters out adult content. Alternatively, if children are older and want to use the main site, parents can supervise their accounts to review the sites they visit. Similar supervision options are available for Facebook Messenger and TikTok. However, it's important to note that these controls are not foolproof. Some adults might find them confusing to set up, and some children might find ways to bypass them. Phone networks may block explicit websites until users prove they are over 18, and there are also parental control options on smartphones and tablets provided by Android, Apple, and third-party developers. Broadband services and game consoles also offer parental controls to filter content and ensure age-appropriate usage. Charities like the NSPCC emphasize the importance of having open conversations with children about online safety and taking an interest in their online activities. Making discussions about online safety a regular part of daily conversation can help children feel comfortable and more likely to share any concerns they have. The government has introduced the Online Safety Act to hold social media and search engine companies more accountable for user protection, especially for children. However, the full enforcement of the legislation will take time. Some individuals believe that the Act does not go far enough, and more measures are needed. Esther Ghey advocates for preventing children from accessing social media apps and suggests parents should have access to software that alerts them to concerning content their children might be searching for. Conservative MP Miriam Cates even suggests banning under 16s from social media and smartphones, although Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes the Online Safety Act already provides protection against harmful content.