Context:

• The CEOs of global tech giants Meta, X, Snap, TikTok, and Discord attended a US Senate hearing on the companies’ failures in protecting children online. 
• The hearing, organised by the US Senate’s Committee on the Judiciary, focused on online child sexual exploitation, with the CEOs testifying for the first time on this issue.
• This necessitates the need to understand the larger vulnerabilities of children on different social media platforms.

Vulnerabilities of Children:

• Exposure to Inappropriate Content: Children may encounter age-inappropriate or explicit content on social media platforms, impacting their emotional well-being and understanding of appropriate behaviour.
  • India, despite being the largest market for Meta, has fewer content moderators — both proportionally and in absolute numbers — than the US or Europe. 
• Online Predators: Social media can be a breeding ground for online predators who may exploit children’s innocence and trust, posing as peers or friends to engage in harmful activities.
  • According to the NCRB, about 28 per cent of the entire minor population has faced some form of sexual abuse, but many victims do not come forward to register a complaint. Despite this, in 2022 alone, 38,911 child rape and nearly 3,500 cases of sexual exploitation online were reported.
• Cyberbullying: Children are vulnerable to cyberbullying, including harassment, threats, and exclusion, which can have severe consequences on their mental health and self-esteem.
• Addictive Features: Social media platforms often employ addictive features, leading to excessive screen time and potential negative impacts on children’s physical health, sleep patterns, and overall well-being.
• Privacy Concerns: Children may not fully understand the privacy implications of sharing personal information online, exposing them to potential identity theft, stalking, or other privacy-related risks.
• Peer Pressure and Body Image Issues: Social media can contribute to unrealistic beauty standards, fostering body image insecurities and promoting a culture of comparison, potentially leading to self-esteem issues and unhealthy behaviours.
• Impact on Mental Health: Exposure to cyberbullying, social comparison, and negative online interactions can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation among children.
• Inadequate Age Verification: Despite age restrictions on social media platforms, children may easily create accounts by providing false information, exposing them to age-inappropriate content and interactions.
• Lack of Digital Literacy: Many children lack the necessary digital literacy skills to critically evaluate online information, discern fake news, and navigate potential online threats, making them susceptible to misinformation.
• Unhealthy Online Behaviours: Social media may encourage unhealthy behaviours such as seeking validation through likes and comments, leading to a potential over-reliance on online affirmation for self-worth.
• Parental Supervision Challenges: Parents may struggle to monitor and regulate their children’s online activities, especially as children gain more independence and access to devices.
• Online Challenges and Trends: Children may participate in harmful online challenges or trends that promote risky behaviour, posing physical or psychological dangers.
• Commercial Exploitation: Children may be targeted by advertisers and marketers, leading to potential exploitation and the promotion of material or products that are not suitable for their age group.
• Impacts on Academic Performance: Excessive use of social media may lead to distractions, affecting children’s concentration and academic performance.

What can be done?

Parents and Guardians:

• Establish Open Communication: Foster a trusting relationship with children to encourage them to share their online experiences, concerns, and encounters without fear of punishment.
• Use Parental Control Tools: Employ parental control tools and features provided by social media platforms, as well as third-party applications, to monitor and limit children’s online activities.
• Set and Enforce Clear Rules: Establish guidelines for responsible social media use, including time limits, privacy settings, and appropriate online behaviour. Enforce these rules consistently.
• Educate Children about Digital literacy and Online Risks: Provide age-appropriate education on the potential dangers of social media, including exposure to inappropriate content, online predators, and cyberbullying.

Educational Institutions:

• Integrate Digital Literacy Education: Incorporate digital literacy education into school curricula to empower students with the skills needed to navigate the online world responsibly.
• Conduct Cyberbullying Prevention Programs: Implement programs that educate students about cyberbullying, its consequences, and strategies to prevent and respond to such incidents.
• Promote Positive Online Behavior: Encourage positive online behaviour and digital citizenship through awareness campaigns, workshops, and school policies that address respectful communication.

Social Media Platforms:

• Implement Stricter Content Moderation: Enforce robust content moderation policies to identify and remove inappropriate or harmful content promptly, especially content targeting children.
• Enhance Age Verification Mechanisms: Strengthen age verification processes to ensure that users are of the appropriate age for the platform, reducing the risk of exposure to age-inappropriate content.
• Provide Parental Controls and Reporting Tools: Enhance parental control features on platforms and provide accessible reporting tools for users to report inappropriate content or activities.
• Participate in Regulatory Discussions: Actively engage in discussions with regulatory bodies to contribute to the development of effective and balanced regulations that prioritise child safety on digital platforms.
• Promote Digital Well-Being Features: Develop and promote features that encourage digital well-being, such as screen time monitoring, reminders for breaks, and tools that support a healthier online experience.

Government and Policymakers:

• Enact and Enforce Online Child Protection Laws: Introduce and enforce legislation that specifically addresses online child protection, including measures against cyberbullying, online predation, and exposure to harmful content.
• Support Digital Literacy Initiatives: Allocate resources to support digital literacy initiatives in schools and communities, emphasising the importance of responsible online behaviour.
• Collaborate with Tech Companies: Work collaboratively with social media platforms to establish and enforce industry-wide standards for child protection, privacy, and responsible online practices.
• Regular Audits and Assessments: Conduct regular audits and assessments of social media platforms’ safety measures and compliance with child protection regulations.

Effective regulation of children participation in social media platforms becomes necessary in Indian and Global contexts. Implementation of these measures helps in this direction.