A recent study by Internet Matters revealed that children are being exposed to distressing content on social media, such as reports on the demise of Liam Payne and the tragic killing of Charlie Kirk. The research indicated that 60% of kids who follow news on social platforms encountered stories that caused them worry or distress in June. These stories covered topics like war, conflict, violence, death, and crisis situations.
The non-profit organization expressed concerns about how algorithms are inundating children’s feeds with graphic content that they find distressing. The study also highlighted worries about AI-generated content, with 27% of children admitting to falling for a false story.
Notably, vulnerable children, including those with special educational needs or health conditions, were more susceptible to believing fake or AI-generated news. Approximately 43% of this group fell for misleading stories, compared to 23% of children not classified as vulnerable in the study.
A 17-year-old participant shared her experience, saying she had been deceived by fake videos of natural disasters, emphasizing how easily she was misled by AI-generated content.
The report emphasized the dangers of misinformation online, warning that it could exacerbate social and political divisions and even incite real-world harm. The researchers also raised concerns about the proliferation of AI-generated content, including deepfakes, on social media, making it harder for users to verify and trust news sources.
In response to these issues, 48% of children expressed the belief that social media companies should take proactive measures to remove fake news, while 40% suggested that AI-generated content should be clearly labeled.
According to the survey, 76% of children and young people consume news on a weekly basis, with 68% sourcing their news from social media platforms. Algorithms play a significant role in delivering news to youngsters, as 40% of children who get news from social media do not follow news-focused accounts.
The report urged social media companies to integrate media literacy features into their platforms to help children evaluate, question, and contextualize the information they encounter. Rachel Huggins, co-chief executive of Internet Matters, pointed out the potential risks of negative information overload on children’s well-being.
Jess Asato, a Labour MP and member of the Education Select Committee, emphasized the importance of equipping children with the skills to navigate the digital world safely and critically.
The survey conducted by Internet Matters involved 1,000 UK children aged 11-17 in July. The implementation of Ofcom’s children’s codes at the end of July is expected to address harmful algorithms.
A government spokesperson highlighted the importance of protecting young people from harmful online content, especially as platforms adhere to the new child safety requirements. The government is committed to promoting online safety skills for families to enable informed choices and will intervene further if necessary to safeguard children.
By incorporating Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News, readers can access the news content they value swiftly and conveniently.