Child safety feature scanning messages for nudity to be rolled out

  • Apple has announced that a safety feature using AI technology to scan messages sent to and from children is coming to the UK soon.
  • When enabled, the ‘communication safety in Messages’ feature will scan photos sent or received by a child for nudity.
  • If nudity is detected, the photo will be blurred, and child will be warned that it may contain sensitive content.
  • Messages sent by a child containing nudity will trigger a message encouraging them not to send the message and the option to “message a grown-up” for support.
  • You can read the full story on The Guardian’s website.

 Children likely to spend 10 years of their lives in VR metaverse

  • Research by the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) predicts that the next generation of children will spend approximately 10 years in VR over the course of their lifetime.
  • This constitutes around 2 hours and 45 minutes per day.
  • The IET is calling for comprehensive measures to be put in place in the upcoming Online Safety Bill for regulating activity within VR and the metaverse.
  • You can read the full story on the IET’s website.

Instagram’s creator-focused features to encourage content

  • Instagram is making new creator-focused changes to its platform to encourage the creation of original Reels content to reduce re-posting of TikTok content.
  • The new features include ‘Product Tags’ where users can assign themselves to a category like “photographer”.
  • Instagram is also introducing ‘Ranking for Originality’ where original content (created from scratch on Instagram) will be more heavily promoted over re-shares.
  • You can read the full story on The Verge’s website.

Edinburgh high school pupils targeted in vile TikTok cyberbullying trend

  • Edinburgh secondary school pupils are being targeted as part of a TikTok cyberbullying trend.
  • Anonymous TikTok accounts were set up during the Easter holidays posting clues to pupil’s identities, asking peers to guess who they are.
  • Most posts left clues based on the children’s appearance, with some more serious allegations including sexual assault and racism.
  • The NSPCC has warned about the harmful and dangerous long-term impact the videos will have.
  • You can read the full story on the Edinburgh Live’s website.

More than 800 referrals made by NSPCC above child abuse and neglect in the North East

  • The NSPCC has made more than 800 referrals about child abuse and neglect in the North East last year, averaging at around 2 cases per day.
  • Most referrals were in the category of neglect, followed by physical abuse and then emotional abuse.
  • Across the UK last year, the helpline made 22,983 referrals to agencies about children experiencing neglect and abuse.
  • As part of their ‘Childhood Day’ on June 10th, the NSPCC is asking people to play their part in keeping children safe through fundraising, donating, and volunteering.
  • You can read the full story on the ITV’s website.