Should parents allow their children to go online? All the inflammatory coverage makes the decision far harder

Inflammatory media coverage is making it increasingly difficult for parents to decide whether to allow their children online, a situation exacerbated by news of young teenagers easily accessing hardcore porn on platforms like TikTok. Researchers discovered highly sexualized content on TikTok despite restrictive settings, highlighting how content is designed to evade detection. This comes as the UK's Online Safety Act aims to protect children from such material, though studies indicate Meta's efforts on Instagram are also ineffective and a surge in VPN use seeks to bypass restrictions. These alarming reports can lead parents to believe the internet is entirely unsafe and tempt them to ban access, a reaction understandable given statistics revealing children's exposure to online sexual exploitation, violent content, and cyberbullying. However, the article argues that such coverage often downplays progress, as many adult sites and platforms like X and Reddit have implemented age checks or blocked UK access. The author draws parallels to past moral panics surrounding radio and television, suggesting that current media over-focuses on online risks, citing Roblox as an example where criticisms of it being a "paedophile hellscape" overshadowed its potential for positive learning and identity exploration. This sensationalist language, exemplified by headlines about TikTok content, discourages open communication by making parents fear judgment and children fear repercussions, ultimately making them more likely to consume harmful content. Instead of outright bans, the article advocates for a strategy of negotiated decision-making, integrating technology into family life and accepting risks to build childre... download the app to read more