A CHILDREN’S charity is calling on tech companies to rethink how social media platforms are designed and prioritise creating age-appropriate experiences for young girls online.
The NSPCC say social media is failing to protect women and girls from harm at every stage according to a report carried out by PA Consulting on behalf of the charity.
As part of the research, fake profiles of a teenage girl were created on these sites.
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.
Proposed solutions include conducting ‘abusability studies’ to identify risky features and functionalities, implement a cooling off period once a connection is made between users and increase measures to prevent non trusted adults from being able to video call young users.
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.”
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: [email protected].
