Faster progress needed to ensure children safe on internet, says Professor Tanya Byron
Neil Puffett
Monday, March 29, 2010
More needs to be done to ensure children are aware of the risks posed by the internet, a government adviser has warned.
Professor Tanya Byron, whose review on child internet safety was published two years ago, said the UK is a world leader in child internet safety but needs to make faster progress to stay ahead of advances in technology.
In her progress review published today, two years on from her first report Safer Children in a Digital World, including public awareness campaign Zip it, Block it, Flag it and the creation of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS).
She said: "I am impressed with the work that has taken place since my original review in 2008. The progress on video game classification, the public awareness campaign and improvements in education through schools should be commended.
"Parents should be confident to let their children explore the opportunities the internet and new technologies can bring. However, they need to be able to support their children to develop the skills to become savvy and risk-aware digital citizens.
"While good progress is being made to raise awareness, this needs to continue at pace."
In her report today, she has made new recommendations including calling for UKCCIS to engage with, and listen to, children, young people and parents more effectively.
She also called on the industry to speed up work on a self-regulated code of practice to keep pace with the changes in new technologies, such as WiFi access on mobile phones.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said: "We need to make sure we are constantly assessing progress against the rapid advancements in new technologies.
"I have asked the UKCCIS executive board to take some time fully to consider the recommendations and agree a response by the end of July."
