Meta is partnering with the non-profit organization Childhelp to create a program that will teach children (secondary school students) how to recognize various forms of online exploitation, such as scams and online sexual abuse. The curriculum is fully funded by Meta and is offered free of charge to any school, parent, or organization.
According to Meta, the program consists of lessons, interactive classroom activities, and videos that will help children "navigate both the online and offline worlds safely."
See also: UK: New laws to combat AI child sexual abuse images
The program was designed by child safety from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the Department of Homeland Security, the nonprofit organization Thorn, Purdue University, and the Crimes Against Children Research Center.
The organization Childhelp, with which Meta collaborates, helps neglected and abused children. It also tries to raise awareness about the issue of child abuse.
The curriculum aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools necessary to safely online spaces. By understanding the potential risks and warning signs of aggressive behavior, young people can make more informed decisions online and protect themselves from harm.
See also: Roblox: New safety features for kids (all changes)
Meta is ramping up efforts to make its platforms safer for kids as lawmakers increasingly push in that direction. Last year, Instagram mandated more private and restricted accounts for teen users and began automatically blurring nude images sent to minors. The platform also introduced new features to combat sexual abuse, including preventing screenshotting of disappearing photos in private conversations.
At the same time, bills like the Kids Online Safety Act and COPPA 2.0 have passed the Senate, while the Kids Off Social Media aims to prevent children under 13 from creating social media. Some states have passed separate laws on child safety on social media, although most of them face legal challenges.
“ At Meta, we continue to do everything we can to protect young people on our apps ,” Antigone Davis , Meta’s head of global security, said in the press release . “ These protections will be even more effective if teens also feel confident about identifying potential harm and know where to turn for help .”
See also: A new iMessage feature encourages kids to report inappropriate images
In recent years, the issue of online child exploitation has gained greater attention due to the increasing use of technology for this purpose and awareness of the dangers posed by the internet.
It is important for parents, educators, technology companies, and society as a whole to provide education about the dangers and warning signs of online exploitation. By working together, we can create a safer online environment for children and ensure that their digital experiences are positive and empowering.
Source: www.theverge.com
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