SEPT-DEC 2023 ISSUE - Flipbook - Page 35
But what about the policymakers?
The role of government in
responsible phone use
In addition to collaboration between
parents and schools, the government
must enforce clearer online safety
practices that better protect everyone
online when using mobile phones.
There are measures in place that focus
on creating safer online environments,
such as the Age-Appropriate Design
Code and the proposed Online Safety Bill,
which incorporate clauses that safeguard
children from exposure to specific online
harms. But there is still a long way to go,
and government inaction makes it even
more important for parents and schools
to be vigilant in safeguarding children
from online dangers.
The Age-Appropriate Design Code, also
known as the Children’s Code,
comprises 15 standards that online
services must adhere to. It is designed to
ensure compliance with data protection
regulations to protect children’s online
data. The Code applies to a broad range
of mobile-connected services, including
apps, games, and news sites. If children
are likely to access a service, regardless
of whether they are a company’s primary
target or user, it is a legal obligation for
apps to meet these standards.
The Age-Appropriate Design Code
encompasses three aspects:
• Age verification:
The Code mandates online services to
verify the age of users, especially those
below the age of 18, and implement
measures to prevent their access to
age-restricted content, including
gambling content and specific game
types.
• Privacy settings:
The Code requires online services to
provide privacy settings enabling users
to manage the extent and nature of personal information collected and shared,
particularly with gaming-related content.
• Parental controls:
The Age-Appropriate Code requires
online services to offer parental controls
that allow parents and caregivers to limit
access to specific online content.
Then, the long-anticipated Online Safety
Bill, currently in the committee stage in
the House of Lords, is part of the government’s commitment to establish the
UK as the safest place in the world to be
online while upholding the principles of
free expression.
The provisions of the Bill focus on specific
areas, including:
• Duty of care:
The proposed Online Safety Bill
establishes a legal obligation for online
service providers to ensure user
protection from harms associated with
gaming and gambling. This includes
measures to prevent children from
accessing gambling content and being
exposed to gambling advertisements.
• Transparency: The proposed Online
Safety Bill mandates companies to
maintain transparency regarding the
content and advertising served to users,
including gambling-related content.
Additionally, they are required to offer
clear guidance on how users can report
harmful content or behaviour.
While the Online Safety Bill and AgeAppropriate Design Code measures
represent significant strides from the
government, there remain areas where
these could be strengthened to better
support and protect children.
For instance, the Online Safety Bill
introduces a legal duty of care for online
services, yet there are vast concerns
about the adequacy of enforcement
mechanisms to ensure companies adhere
to their obligations. Students are likely to
look to schools and parents for support
when something goes wrong instead.
Bolstering enforcement and
accountability measures could be
instrumental in guaranteeing that online
services take the necessary steps to
protect children from harmful content
and make mobile phones safer. This, and
collaboration with parents and schools,
work towards creating overall safer online
environments with responsible users.
Embrace technology, educate students
Instilling an awareness in children of the
internet’s inherent dangers while
acknowledging its significance for
learning and future career prospects,
is crucial to creating an open and safe
learning environment.
Ultimately, schools should decide
whether to “ban” smartphones based on
the school’s and pupils’ needs. We should
also look to embrace technology rather
than prohibit it – after all, technology isn’t
going anywhere; it’s only becoming more
advanced.