NSPCC warns social media platforms are failing to protect girls
Social media platforms, messaging apps and gaming platforms are failing to protect girls at every stage, according to new research from the NSPCC.
The children's charity commissioned PA Consulting to conduct a new report, Targeting of Girls Online, which identified a wide range of risks girls face across ten popular online platforms including grooming, harassment and abuse.
As part of the research, fake profiles of a teenage girl were created on these sites.
(Image: Getty Images)
The report found that the detailed nature of the profiles made it too easy for adult strangers to pick out girls and send unsolicited messages to their accounts.
Findings also highlighted how many of the features and functionalities employed by tech companies subliminally encourage young girls to increase their online networks, online consumption, and online activity - often at the expense of their own safety.
In response the NSPCC is urging Ofcom to address the significant gaps in its Illegal Harms Codes which fail to take into account specific risks which would be mitigated by solutions found in the report.
The Targeting of Girls Online report analysed features and design choices of these platforms which expose girls to harm online - including abuse, harassment and exploitation from strangers.
Proposed solutions include:
all services conducting their own 'abusability studies' to identify risky features and functionalities, as well as testing any new feature before rolling it out. These tests must include a gendered analysis of likely risk
social media apps should integrate screenshot capabilities into a reporting function, along with automatically detecting identifiable information in bios.
social media apps should implement a 'cooling off' period once a connection is made between users, resulting in increased restrictions on interactions.
increased measures to prevent non trusted adults from being able to video call young users.
Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk.
Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday. Adults who are concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000, or email: help@NSPCC.org.ukhelp@NSPCC.org.uk
Rani Govender, Policy Manager for Child Safety Online, said: "Parents are absolutely right to be concerned about the risks their daughters' are being exposed to online, with this research making it crystal clear that tech companies are not doing nearly enough to create age-appropriate experiences for girls.
'We know both on and offline girls face disproportionate risks of harassment, sexual abuse, and exploitation. That's why it's so worrying that these platforms are fundamentally unsafe by design – employing features and dark patterns that are putting girls in potentially dangerous situations.
'There needs to be a complete overhaul of how these platforms are built. This requires tech companies and Ofcom to step up and address how poor design can lead to unsafe spaces for girls.
'At the same time Government must layout in their upcoming Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy steps to help prevent child sexual offences and tackle the design failures of social media companies that put girls in harm's way.'
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