Sending threatening posts among offences in revised online safety bill

  • Under new proposed online safety laws, tech firms will be required to prevent the publication of harmful content or face substantial fines.
  • This content includes revenge porn, fraud, and the sale of illegal drugs.
  • Joining ‘digital pile-ons’ (a group attacking an individual), sending threatening social media posts and posting deliberate hoax bomb threats are among new criminal offences.
  • You can read the full story through the Guardian.

Meta moves to tackle creepy behaviour in virtual reality

  • Meta has announced a new feature to allow more personal space for people’s avatars in virtual-reality worlds in response to reported harassment.
  • The new feature Is called ‘Personal Boundary’ and prevents avatars from coming within a certain distance to others.
  • The feature aims to make it easier to avoid unwanted interactions.
  • You can read the full story through the BBC.

‘Rape culture’ teacher advice hotline launched

  • A government-backed advice service for school staff has been launched about how to deal with sexual abuse among young people.
  • The Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service provides advice to education and safeguarding professionals, police, social workers, and health professionals.
  • It has been set up in response to last year’s Ofsted review into ‘rape culture’ concerns after Everyone’s Invited.
  • You can read the full story through the Tes Magazine.

Ofsted swoops after brawl in school canteen on TikTok

  • Ofsted has conducted an emergency visit focusing on safeguarding and behaviour in an International Academy, after a video was circulated on TikTok.
  • The video showed a fight between five students in the school canteen.
  • The visit followed complaints from parents and was upgraded to a full, graded section 5 inspection.
  • You can read the full story through Schools Week.