Thoughts from our Digital Leaders on the Online Harms White Paper

Published: 10th July 2019

Earlier this year the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Home Office published the Online Harms White Paper, outlining government proposals to make the internet a safer place.

As part of the Childnet response we wanted the invaluable youth perspective on these ideas, so we asked 78 of our Childnet Digital Leaders questions which were relevant to the proposed Online Harms White Paper. These ranged from questions about the issues facing young people online to what they thought industry could do more of.

Here are some of the things they said:

“I think the biggest issue on the internet at the moment is people are over-sharing and therefore giving others too much information which they can abuse. We are always told the same things: ‘never share your password online’ ‘never talk to someone you don’t know’ and ‘keep your privacy settings high’, which are all incredibly important, however we are never taught any of the new problems.”

“I believe that social media is a big issue as it leaves a large window for cyber bullying, peer pressure, online predators and addiction. Young people face issues through social media and are constantly challenged to have the best things, the most followers etc and it can greatly upset a minor.”

“(I want to know) what the outcomes of telling teachers or trusted adults about your problems are.”

“Something that should be covered in school more often is teaching about what to do when you are being cyber bullied and how to deal with it.”

Read the full response from the Childnet Digital Leaders

This is an excerpt from a blog on the Childnet website which includes Childnet’s overall response to the Online Harms White Paper.