From cyberbullying and childhood obesity to concerns over developmental issues and lost sleep, there are many reasons parents worry about their kids’ screen time.
Now proposed regulations in the UK could mean statutory involvement in how and when youngsters use sites like Facebook and Snapchat.
The UK’s information commissioner Elizabeth Denham is seeking to curb children’s social media use at night by getting social media companies to alter their settings for younger users, reports The Independent.
The ‘social media curfew’ would see a deactivation of features like notifications at night.
Companies could be fined for failing to comply with the regulations, which are expected to come into effect by the end of next year.
Earlier this year, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) called on the state to impose regulations on social media companies for the benefit of children.
Allowing companies like Facebook to set their own measures for child protection isn’t enough to keep kids safe, it said.
“In the ISPCC, we hear first-hand the voices of children who have experienced the adverse side to being online,” said the organisation’s CEO Grainia Long.
“We know they need support.”
The ISPCC also wants a Digital Safety Commissioner to have the power to set requirements of these companies.
“We urge Government to… require the industry to adhere to statutory standards. “
