Families and victims of abuse who have suffered years of “preventable and life-altering harm” due to social media feel they have been sidelined in official discussions about holding tech companies accountable.
Parents like Mariano Janin and Oliver Stevens, who lost their children to online bullying and disputes, respectively, are pushing for action on this issue. They, along with others, have criticized Ofcom for excluding them from the consultation process on online harm.
Parents like Ian Russell, who lost his daughter Molly to self-harm content on social media, feel that their voices are not being heard in the consultation process with Ofcom. They, along with other families and activists, believe that the regulator has failed to address the devastating impact of online harm despite having valuable insights into the issue.
Their concerns revolve around Ofcom’s approach to protecting people from online harm, which they find overly technical and inaccessible. They feel that there is limited effort to engage with those who have experienced online harm firsthand.
In response to these criticisms, Ofcom defended its inclusion of bereaved families and survivors of online abuse in shaping its online safety policy. They emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration with all stakeholders involved.
However, some signatories of the letter feel that the involvement of victims has been inadequate so far and are calling for more targeted engagement with those affected by online harm.
Janin, who lost his daughter Mia to online bullying, believes that more information from families and schools is essential to bring about positive change for children’s safety online. He advocates for stricter measures to hold social media companies accountable for their actions.
He stresses the need for a proactive approach to ensure that social media platforms prioritize user safety and responsibility. He calls for a higher standard to be set for these companies in providing a safe online environment for all users.
Source: www.theguardian.com
