WHO produced first ever report to help keep children safe online

The World Health Organisation (WHO) have published a new report outlining ways to address the growing worldwide concern of keeping children safe online.

Published this week, the new report by WHO focuses on two forms of online violence that children are exposed to: child sexual abuse including grooming and sexual image abuse; and cyber aggression and harassment in the form of online bullying.

Etienne Krug, Director of the WHO Department of Social Determinants of Health, said: ‘Our children spend more and more time online; as such it is our duty to make the online environment safe.

‘This new document provides for the first time a clear direction for action by governments, donors and other development partners, showing that we must address online and offline violence together if we are to be effective.’

The report stresses the importance of implementing educational programmes directed at children and parents. These will be implemented in schools and will consist of multiple sessions promoting interaction amongst children and adults.

Studies have shown the effectiveness of these methods in reducing levels of violence victimisation, perpetration and associated risk behaviours like alcohol and drug abuse.

Other responses to helping children online include:

• Putting less emphasis on ‘stranger danger’ as strangers are not the sole offenders in online violence against children
• Putting more emphasis on peer perpetrators, who are responsible for the majority of offences according to WHO
• Helping develop healthy relationship skills, since romance and seeking intimacy are major sources of vulnerability to online violence

WHO are now calling on the government to establish the right balance between fostering opportunities for young people through the digital age and protecting them from harm.

Last month, the government announced new restrictions on what content can be shared on social media, following a corner ruling the death of a girl being down to exposure to harmful content online.

Due to this, legislations within the Online Safety Bill are set to be tightened.

However, although the government has begun making amends to ensuring the internet only offers positive possibilities for children, WHO argues more work needs to be done.

Photo by Adem AY