U.S., UK Establish Working Group to Enhance Online Child Safety

The United States and the United Kingdom have formed a joint working group to explore strategies for enhancing online child safety.

During the launch, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and UK Science and Technology Minister Peter Kyle called on tech platforms to act “further and faster” in protecting children.

This initiative gains importance as platforms like Instagram and Snapchat face increasing scrutiny over their effects on children.

The transatlantic effort is the first of its kind and will likely intensify the focus on these issues. Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that young people using social media are at risk for body image problems, disordered eating, sleep disorders, and low self-esteem, particularly among adolescent girls.

According to data from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Snapchat was involved in 43% of cases where social media was used to distribute indecent images of children in the UK. Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, accounted for 33% of social media-related child abuse incidents.

Also Read:  Child safety: Tech CEOs face scrutiny from U.S. senators

In response, companies like Snap and Meta have pledged to work with officials to protect young users, introducing tools such as parental controls to enhance teen online safety.

Context: Legislators in both the U.S. and the UK are pushing for stronger online safety regulations. In the U.S., two bills—the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)—have passed the Senate and are awaiting votes in the House of Representatives.

In the UK, the Online Safety Act, expected to be in effect by the end of 2024, will require social media companies to prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content through age verification measures. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to £18 million ($22.3 million) or 10% of their annual global revenue.

UK Minister Peter Kyle emphasized the importance of international cooperation, stating, “The digital world has no borders, and working with partners like the U.S.—home to the largest tech firms—is crucial.”