«Breaking News» 'Wild West' web giants face a levy to protect the young as report warns teenagers

Social media giants are being allowed to operate in a lawless ‘Wild West’ in which vulnerable children have to fend for themselves, a major report warns today.

Teenagers are increasingly at risk of becoming addicted to sites such as Facebook and Instagram – a problem so harmful that experts want officials to investigate whether it could be classified as a disease.

MPs on the all-party parliamentary group on social media and young people’s mental health and wellbeing are calling for tough new regulations on social networking companies and want them in place within seven months.

The report said the average 14-year-old is now using social media for three to four hours a day. At this level of use, 27 per cent of youngsters have symptoms of mental health problems, compared with 12 per cent of those who do not use social media [File photo]

Their report said social media firms should be taxed to fund measures that protect young people.

They proposed a 0.5 per cent levy on profits to fund research, educational programmes and clearer guidance for the public.

Companies must also accept they have a ‘duty of care’ to their users and must adhere to a legally-binding code of conduct to be enforced by Ofcom. 

Labour MP Chris Elmore, chairman of the group, said: ‘Our report is the wake-up call needed to ensure, finally, that meaningful action is taken to lessen the negative impact social media is having on young people’s mental health.

Teenagers are also under pressure to conform to ‘beauty standards’ that are ‘perpetuated and praised online’, pushing them to achieve ‘results’, including disordered eating and body shame, the MPs conclude [File photo]

‘For far too long social media companies have been allowed to operate in an online Wild West. And it is in this lawless landscape that our children currently work and play online. This cannot continue. As the report makes clear, now is the time for the Government to take action.’

The report said the average 14-year-old is now using social media for three to four hours a day.

At this level of use, 27 per cent of youngsters have symptoms of mental health problems, compared with 12 per cent of those who do not use social media. 

Teenagers are also under pressure to conform to ‘beauty standards’ that are ‘perpetuated and praised online’, pushing them to achieve ‘results’, including disordered eating and body shame, the MPs conclude.

The report found 46 per cent of girls say social media has a negative impact on their self-esteem.

The impact of social media on the young was thrust into the spotlight earlier this year by the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell.

She showed no signs of mental distress, but took her own life after viewing graphic images on Instagram that glamorised self-harm.

Teenagers are increasingly at risk of becoming addicted to sites such as Facebook and Instagram – a problem so harmful that experts want officials to investigate whether it could be classified as a disease [File photo]

Since then, the Government has indicated it will publish a white paper forcing social media firms to sign a code of conduct protecting young and vulnerable users.

Dr Max Davie, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: ‘Social media has changed the social landscape and our children and young people are the test pilots.

‘Evidence suggests screen time in itself is not harmful to child health but when it displaces other important activities such as sleep, physical activity and face-to-face interaction it can lead to harm.’

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/18/wild-west-web-giants-face-a-levy-to-protect-the-young-as-report-warns-teenagers/
Main photo article Social media giants are being allowed to operate in a lawless ‘Wild West’ in which vulnerable children have to fend for themselves, a major report warns today.
Teenagers are increasingly at risk of becoming addicted to sites such as Facebook and Instagram – a problem so harmful that experts want ...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





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