Children need to be better protected online with a child centred design, campaigners have said.
CyberSafeKids has urged Meta to create a child-centred design on its social media apps.
The European Commission is investigating Facebook and Instagram over concerns their apps lead to addictive behaviour in children.
CyberSafeKids CEO Alex Cooney believes 'rabbit hole' effects cause major problems for kids.
“It’s terribly damaging,” she said.
“I think the whole way the recommended system works can be really problematic for children.
“It sends them down these rabbit holes and it’s really distorting their worldview in some cases because they’re only seeing one type of information or they’re only seeing one type of an argument.
“Their feeds can be overwhelmed by certain types of content.”
Children texting on their phones in the back seat. Picture by: Tetra Images / Alamy Stock PhotoMs Cooney said Meta has an “enormous responsibility” to make sure children stay safe using their apps.
“We need a child-centred design,” she said.
“This problem does not relate only to Meta; we know that other companies - Google, TikTok - they also face these issues in terms of children online.
“We need to protect children much better.”
Children must be at least 13-years-old to sign up to Instagram.
Main image: Children using a phone. Picture by: Gregory Wrona / Alamy Stock Photo
