It's not easy to eliminate all harmful information, but protecting children from the "traps" on the Internet must be done systematically and thoroughly, not only to ensure their safety but also to help them develop correct perceptions later in life.
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| It's not easy to eliminate all harmful information, but protecting children from the 'traps' of the internet must be done systematically and thoroughly. (Illustrative image) |
A double-edged sword
During the Covid-19 pandemic, children were the most affected by the barriers erected during lockdowns and quarantines. Fortunately, the internet and social media helped to some extent to ensure that their learning and connection were not interrupted.
Even without going to school, children can still participate in online classes, chat with friends, and entertain themselves via the internet. This is not only an endless source of knowledge for children to actively learn and explore , but also an effective communication channel, helping them maintain relationships and avoid the psychological harm caused by isolation.
However, children's increased use of the internet and social media during the pandemic may lead to them becoming prime victims of fake news and online violence and abuse.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reports that since 2019, the number of websites displaying images and videos of child sexual abuse has increased by 1,058% – an extremely alarming figure. In 2020, the IWF discovered more than 25,000 websites containing the most severe forms of child abuse. This number doubled in 2022, reaching a record high. The IWF report also indicates that the younger the child, the higher the risk of abuse.
According to data released by the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), in 2010, only about 1 million reports of child sexual abuse material were submitted to Cyber Tipline – an online platform for reporting child sexual exploitation. In 2019, the number of reports skyrocketed to 29.3 million, and in 2021, it exceeded 32 million in 2022.
Sexual abuse is just one of the risks children face when using the internet. UNICEF survey data indicates that more than one-third of teenagers have experienced cyberbullying, with one-fifth revealing they considered dropping out of school due to shame. Actions such as using derogatory nicknames, making derogatory comments, and creating manipulated images have a significant impact on children. Unlike direct verbal abuse, bullying comments and images spread rapidly and are stored online, leaving victims feeling trapped with no way out.
Furthermore, children are also targets of harmful information and fake news. With their inquisitive and exploratory nature, children are often lured and persuaded by sensational and bizarre fake information. This is also why many children become victims of dangerous trends. A few years ago, the "Blue Whale Challenge" and "Momo Challenge" trends led to hundreds of tragic child suicides.
Children's participation in social media groups or online games poses a risk of personal information leakage. Criminals can use this information to post illegal or inappropriate advertisements targeting children. This can make them easy targets for kidnappers and traffickers. Furthermore, unguided internet use increases the risk of social media addiction, leading to a lack of self-control, reduced awareness, anxiety, and negatively impacting children's lives.
Among internet users, children are the most vulnerable group due to their lack of or limited knowledge and ability to protect themselves. Meanwhile, parents, who are closest to them and bear the greatest responsibility, are unable to fully control their children's internet and social media use.
Every day, countless pieces of information are posted on the internet, and millions of new groups and websites are created. Without the right skills and constant supervision, it is very difficult for parents to prevent and stop their children from accessing harmful content.
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Let's work together to strengthen the protection of children on the Internet.
Faced with the increasing risks to children on the internet, governments around the world have been rapidly promoting policies aimed at creating a safe online environment. While regulations may vary from country to country, they all advocate for increased parental involvement in managing children's internet use and require social media platforms and online content companies to consider user age before providing services.
The United States was one of the first countries in the world to enact laws to protect children online. As early as 1998, the US Congress passed the Convention on the Protection of Children's Online Privacy (COPPA). This law came into effect two years later and is overseen by the US Federal Trade Commission.
| IWF Executive Director Susie Hargreaves warned: “Children are being targeted, approached, manipulated, and abused by criminals on an industrial scale. This sexual abuse often happens right in the home, and parents are completely unaware of what strangers on the internet are doing to their children.” |
COPPA is the only federal law in the U.S. that restricts the effects of targeted advertising aimed at children. Under COPPA, website operators are prohibited from collecting information from children without parental consent and prior notification.
In 2012, COPPA was amended, including new regulations prohibiting companies from using digital identifiers such as cookies, geolocation data, and any audiovisual information to track and run ads based on children's internet usage habits. The amended law requires companies to delete data collected from children for technological purposes.
However, experts believe that COPPA still has some loopholes, for example, it does not regulate the collection of data from children aged 13-18. At the state level, the US also applies the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). This act partially addresses the limitations of COPPA.
In addition to the two existing laws, COPPA and CCPA, the US is also actively developing new laws to better protect children from increasingly sophisticated online temptations. The California Age-Appropriate Designated Children Act (CAADCA), effective July 1, 2024, raises the age of children to 18, instead of the current 13.
Some US lawmakers are pushing for the Kids Internet Safety and Design Act (KIDS). The bill would force platforms like YouTube and TikTok to restrict advertising and ban autoplay features in content aimed at children.
To address the region's largest distribution of child abuse material online, the European Union (EU) has enacted the Digital Services Act (DSA), requiring technology and social media companies to take more measures to detect and remove child sexual abuse images and better protect the personal data of vulnerable individuals.
The end of August 2023 was the deadline for tech giants to complete adjustments to comply with the DSA. TikTok recently announced that it will allow EU users to disable the feature that automatically displays content based on personal preferences and will ban advertising targeting audiences aged 13-17.
In the UK, where children make up one-fifth of internet users, the Age-Appropriate Design Act, passed in early September 2021, requires technology companies to implement designs and technology standards that are child-friendly, avoiding the use of algorithms that could compromise children's privacy and image.
Techniques that encourage children to bypass privacy rules or collect data on young users will also be banned. Failure to comply could result in penalties of up to 4% of their annual global revenue. Social media platforms have responded positively. TikTok introduced a new feature allowing parents to set a notification mute schedule for children, meaning users aged 13-15 will no longer receive notifications after 9 PM. Instagram disabled targeted advertising aimed at users under 18, and YouTube turned off the auto-up feature for minors.
Meanwhile, France mandates that all social media platforms include features allowing parents to monitor the activities of minors to protect them from inappropriate content such as violence or pornography. Those who post defamatory or false information online can face up to one year in prison and fines of up to nearly $50,000.
Australia is one of the countries with the strictest rules on age restrictions for online access. The country mandates that users under 16 must have parental consent to participate in social media. Companies that violate these rules face fines of up to US$7.5 million, 10% of their annual revenue, or three times their financial gain. Under Australia's online privacy laws, anonymous social media and forums must take all necessary steps to verify the age of users and prioritize the rights of children when collecting data.
In Asia, China is the most stringent in regulating children's internet use. Earlier this month, China announced new regulations restricting those under 18 from accessing the internet on mobile devices between 10 PM and 6 AM the following day.
This country has also implemented a system to regulate smartphone screen time: approximately 40 minutes per day for children under 8 years old, up to 2 hours per day for teenagers aged 16-17. These measures help minimize the risk of children accessing inappropriate or harmful content during times when parents have difficulty supervising them.
Located in a region with one of the world's fastest-growing internet markets, Southeast Asian countries are also actively implementing measures to protect children online. Late last year, the Singapore Parliament passed the Enhanced Online Safety Act.
Accordingly, social media platforms must act “within hours” upon receiving reports from parents and students about inappropriate content. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology has signed an agreement with Twitter to raise awareness about social media use among students, teachers, and educators at the grassroots level.
In today's fast-paced world, prohibiting children from using the internet is impossible and could even be counterproductive. The important thing is to create a safe online environment for them, equipping them with useful information filters to protect themselves from harmful content. Parents must simultaneously guide and supervise their children's online activities.
Although no country has yet come up with a definitive solution to completely eliminate the risks from the Internet, it is encouraging that regulators are continuously tightening regulations and penalties to create a safer and more beneficial online environment for children.
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