This week marked a significant change in how children and young people can be better protected whilst using the internet. The Information Commissioners Office has officially launched the Children’s Code to ensure that tech companies are doing everything they can to respect children’s privacy and work towards keeping them safe online.
What is the Children’s Code?
The children’s code is a set of guidelines associated with how tech companies should manage children and young peoples’ data in line with what the law allows whilst ensuring their rights are adhered to and prioritised. There has been a history of tech companies using children’s data for the wrong purpose, such as, showing inappropriate content through ads, allowing unwanted followers to make contact and encouraging young people to stay online through psychological prompts.
With many of these, there are associated risks that can affect children’s wellbeing and can lead to significant amounts of harm. The new code is there to support tech companies in making necessary changes to how their platforms operate. The Information Commissioners Office is there to ensure that the code is being adhered to and offering support to those who need it.
Change for the better
With the code launching, it has been encouraging to see many online platforms, particularly social media sites already making impactful changes to how their apps are presented to young people. In the last year, some of the biggest names have announced new changes to how children’s profiles are managed including:
- Instagram defaulting under 16 accounts to private
- Tiktok including filtering features and promoting kindness
- Instagram changing how advertisers can target young people
- Youtube updating privacy settings for young people
- Tiktok defaulting under 16 accounts to private
This article was originally posted on saferinternet.org.uk
