| Childnet welcomes MSN UK’s announcement to close Chat services 24 September 2003 | |
Childnet, the children’s Internet charity, welcomes the announcement today by MSN UK that they are closing their public Chat services in the UK and applaud the company for taking this step in seeking to safeguard children and young people online.
As a charity dedicated to ensuring that the internet is a great and safe place for children, Childnet has always taken the view that companies providing interactive services to young people need to continuously review and assess their services from a child safety perspective, and to make sure they are doing all they can to keep their young users safe. At this time when online age verification in chat rooms is very difficult, and when children are being increasingly exposed to unwanted content and sometimes dangerous contact from strangers, Childnet believes the decision by MSN UK is wise.
From working closely with young people, Childnet recognises that online chatting is extremely popular and that there can be very real entertainment and educational benefits in instantaneous communication between young people. However, Childnet would argue that this needs to take place in more protected environments, where children have greater control and choice in who they talk to. Instant Messenger products still allow children to chat with friends but are generally safer as they offer enhanced control and choice. More and more young people and parents seem to prefer this type of interactive service.
When Childnet launched its ground breaking www.chatdanger.com website back in October 2000, following the first known UK case of a child being sexually abused after contact in a chat room, we argued that there were very real dangers for children in chat rooms. We said then that without proper moderation, safety tools and wider education and awareness programmes, children were vulnerable from those who might seek to contact, bully, “groom”, or even meet up in order to hurt them. Sadly this has happened and there has been an increasing number of cases, not just in the UK but worldwide.
Stephen Carrick-Davies – incoming Chief Executive of Childnet says, “At a time when the Internet is continuing to evolve rapidly, this is a very important announcement which has wider significance:
Firstly it reminds us that the rights of children, especially the right to be protected and kept safe in all environments – are vital. At a time when new exciting virtual environments are being created with a “blur” between the boundaries of public and private, we must ensure children are always safe.
Secondly the news will serve as an important “wake up” call to other providers – especially those seeking to offer interactive services on new mobile phones - who will need to consider very carefully their own child safety measures and whether they should offer such services.
Thirdly, it shows the importance of the “Good Practice” guidance drawn up by the Government’s Home Office Internet Task Force in identifying minimum standards for those running interactive services. There needs to be a proper external review of whether all companies offering chat are implementing this guidance, and if it is still sufficient. We urge the Government to implement such a study as soon as possible.”
Childnet would encourage MSN and all companies providing online services to children to re-double their efforts to provide good quality, balanced net education to young people, parents and teachers about the interactive online safety issues. The SMART rules which Childnet has developed are now being used in over 3,000 schools across the UK. They are proving especially effective for younger children to help them understand the importance of keeping personal details safe and not meeting up with strangers whom they have met online. See www.kidsmart.org.uk for more information.
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CONTACT DETAILS
Stephen Carrick-Davies CEO of Childnet stephen@childnet-int.org
Telephone 020 7639 6967 or mobile 0771 245 1859
BACKGROUND TO CHILDNET
Childnet is a registered charity (no 1080173) set up in 1996 with the aim to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children. The organisation seeks to take a balanced view and runs programmes which promote the positive benefits of the Internet for children – see for example www.childnetacademy.org. The charity is also involved in responding to the negative issues and has developed a number of award winning internet awareness projects such as www.kidsmart.org.uk and www.net-detectives.org. Childnet is a member of the UK Government’s Home Office Internet Task Force and works around the world with very many partners.
Kidsmart leaflets are available free to schools through funding from the DFES, Lloyds TSB Foundation and Cable & Wireless. For more information on Childnet see www.childnet-int.org.