Tumblr, a social media website popular with teenagers recently ran into difficulties after the discovery of material on its site relating to child pornography.
The company has said getting its app reinstated is its “top priority.” Tumblr will permanently ban ALL pornographic content—though how effectively this rule will be enforced, only time will tell.
Why is this content available on social media for kids, and how can e-safety for parents help us to keep our children safe from viewing explicit content?
Tumblr has been noted for having a permissive attitude towards NSFW (Not Suitable for Work) and adult-orientated content on its service, but it is not the only social media platform that users can upload adult content onto. In fact, it is possible for children to accidentally stumble across explicit content on many other social media platforms, including apps like Instagram and Snapchat. The worrying truth is that this problem is unlikely to disappear overnight. Fortunately, most companies have methods in place to report, remove, and block adult content, so children are less likely to access explicit material. It is also against the law for any platform to host child sexual abuse material, and social media companies are usually vigilant in removing this content if and when it appears.
An article published by Child Protection Company in Dec 2018 discusses this issue and explores why adult content is available on social media for kids, and how can e-safety for parents help us to keep our children safe from viewing explicit content. Follow this link below for the full article.
Kari Ellis and Norah Buckley
Assistant Head Pastoral and Assistant Head, Safeguarding