Tech Giants must do more to protect kids online, says Children’s Commissioner

Dame Rachel de Souza calls for tougher rules on social media firms

The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has raised concerns about tech giants prioritizing profits over the safety of children online. She is pushing for stricter regulations and wants Ofcom to take action to ensure better standards of internet safety.

Consulting kids on potentially harmful features

Dame Rachel is advocating for social media companies to consult with children before introducing features that could be potentially harmful, such as AI chatbots. She believes that children are best placed to identify potential risks and warns against ignoring their input.

Children as digital pioneers

Describing children as "digital pioneers," Dame Rachel emphasizes the importance of including their voices in discussions about internet safety. She argues that children's experiences on social media platforms are invaluable and should be taken into consideration.

Online Safety Act and the need for engagement

While the Online Safety Act allows for hefty fines for social media companies that fail to tackle harmful content, Dame Rachel believes more engagement with children is necessary. She calls for a requirement for companies to consult with children before launching new features and to prioritize safety in their design.