Keywords: Online safety


Majority of French children aged 10 to 14 support social media ban for under-15s, study finds

A majority of children aged 10 to 14 in France support a proposed ban on social media access for users under the age of 15, according to a new study released by the country's audiovisual and digital regulator, Arcom. The findings suggest that many young people recognize concerns surrounding online......

France moves toward social media ban for children under 15 amid growing safety concerns

French lawmakers are set to vote on a proposed law that would restrict social media access for children under the age of 15, placing France among a growing number of countries seeking stricter protections for minors online. The measure reflects rising concerns among policymakers, parents and educators......

Meta faces Tennessee trial over claims Instagram was designed to encourage addictive use

Meta Platforms is facing a major legal challenge in Tennessee, where state authorities accuse the company of designing Instagram in a way that encourages excessive use among young people and contributes to a youth mental health crisis. The trial, which began with jury selection in Nashville, is part......

More than 20 countries move to restrict minors’ access to social media

Governments around the world are accelerating efforts to regulate young people's access to social media, with more than 20 countries either enforcing or preparing restrictions aimed at protecting children and teenagers online. The growing international trend comes as the European Union weighs new......

Meta faces EU pressure to redesign addictive Instagram and Facebook features

Meta is facing growing regulatory pressure in Europe as the European Union demands changes to key features of Facebook and Instagram that regulators consider potentially addictive. The European Commission has warned the technology company that failure to address these concerns could lead to a significant......

Australia strengthens child social media ban with tougher penalties for tech companies

Australia is moving to strengthen enforcement of its landmark social media restrictions for children by significantly increasing the financial penalties that technology companies could face for failing to comply with the law. The proposed measures reflect growing concerns among policymakers that existing......

Britain announces plan to ban social media for under-16s

The British government has announced plans to prohibit social media use for individuals under the age of 16, in a major policy move aimed at strengthening online safety for children. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the measure is intended to protect young people’s mental health and overall......

UK man jailed over online encouragement of suicide case linked to Discord

A British court has sentenced a man to prison after he was found guilty of encouraging a vulnerable young man in the United States to take his own life during an online interaction on the messaging platform Discord. The defendant, 21-year-old Dylan Phelan, admitted to encouraging harmful behaviour against......

Canada's move to rein in ai chatbots, spurred by school shooting, faces doubts over loopholes

Canada’s new legislative push to regulate artificial intelligence chatbots has sparked debate among academics and legal experts, who warn that potential loopholes and implementation delays could weaken its effectiveness. The proposed law was introduced following public outrage over a school shooting......