News
Keep up to date with the latest development on data protection, children’s rights in the digital environment and more with our news articles and press releases.
Australia: Children’s online safety measures must address systemic harms
Bold new proposals from the Australian government to ban under 16s from social media speak to the abject failure of tech companies to provide age-appropriate services.
Meta announces new changes for under 16s based on 5Rights principles
In line with the requirements of the Age Appropriate Design Code, Meta’s new privacy settings for teen accounts on Instagram are a sign of promise but more work is needed.
Supporting families globally: our work with The Parents’ Network
5Rights is partnering with Archewell’s Parents’ Network to work with families of children severely impacted by online harms to call for online spaces to be designed with the needs and rights of children in mind.
DSA turns 1: more potential for advancing children’s rights
Marking one year since the DSA’s enforcement for VLOPs, we look at the progress made by the European Commission and outline the need for strong guidelines and enforcement to protect child rights online.
5Rights challenges Meta’s inaction on AI-generated CSAM
Despite clear evidence from UK Police indicating the presence of Instagram accounts with over 150,000 followers sharing real and AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Meta has failed to take decisive action. We have issued a legal letter demanding urgent intervention.
U.S. Surgeon General calls for action on young people’s mental health crisis
The U.S. Surgeon General is calling for warning labels on social media to alert to the fact that the services are “associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents”.
Age Appropriate Design Code turns 2: how has it affected children?
The Code’s influence grows as tech companies introduce changes to their services in line with the Code’s provisions, while policymakers globally look to adopt similar principles in their own legislation.
Unveiling the cost of beauty: 5Rights supports Dove campaign
5Rights supports Dove’s “The Cost of Beauty”. Part of the Dove Self Esteem project, this film reveals the severe impact of social media on children’s mental health and advocates for a safer online world.
5Rights partners with Dove to make social media safer for young people
5Rights partners with Dove and other organisations to combat the harmful effects of social media on young people’s mental health, pushing for safer, child-friendly design standards.
Child accounts shown harmful content within hours, new study finds
New research shows children’s social media accounts are rapidly targeted with harmful content like self-harm and sexual material, with platforms prioritising engagement over child safety.