73% of parents from the North West say social media companies are not doing enough to keep children safe online, a YouGov study finds

73% of parents from the North West say social media companies are not doing enough to keep children safe online, latest polling by YouGov has found. It follows reports that some social media companies are planning to roll out end to end encryption which scrambles messages so only the people sending and receiving a message can read it. This could result in social media platforms no longer being able to detect cases of child sex abuse on their platforms.

Right now, social media companies can spot cases of online child sex abuse on their platforms and report them to the Police. Polling carried out by YouGov shows that 69% of parents from the North West say they were unaware of the proposed changes, despite urgent warnings from the likes of:- the NCA, Interpol, Police Chiefs and child safety charities. If the plans go ahead, 14 million reports of suspected online child sexual abuse could be lost every year.
The polling also revealed:-

► 92% of parents from the North West said social media companies should have a responsibility to report child sexual abuse that occurs on their platforms, websites or app.

► 72% of parents from the North West disagree that social media companies like Facebook prioritise children's online safety over maximising profit.

► 83% of parents from the North West do not think people who sexually abuse children on social media platforms should still have the right to privacy online.

In an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, Rhiannon; a survivor of child sexual abuse:- is asking him to listen to the No Place to Hide campaign, which urges social media companies to make a public commitment that they will only implement end to end encryption when they have the technology to ensure any changes do not make it easier for child sex abusers to commit crimes and avoid detection as a result.

The campaign is led by a coalition of leading child safety campaigners, charities, tech experts and survivors of child sex abuse including:- Barnardo's, the Lucy Faithful Foundation, the Marie Collins Foundation and SafeToNet.

Ahead of National Child Exploitation Awareness Day on Friday 18 March, the No Place to Hide campaign is calling on parents from the North West to support the campaign and tell social media companies to put children before profits.

Rhiannon, a survivor of child sexual abuse said:- "Social media plans to protect children are about 'educating young people with in-app tips on avoiding unwanted interactions,' measures to 'let people decide who can message them' and 'encouraging people to report harmful messages.' It appears social media companies are shifting responsibility from themselves to children. I was 13 years old when I was blackmailed and sexually abused by someone I met online. I speak from my own experiences when I say the devastating impact never truly goes away, not just for that child but their entire family. That is why I am writing this open letter to social media companies with an urgent appeal as they make plans to roll out end to end encryption on their platforms. I am asking that they work with us to find a solution that means we protect privacy, but not at the expense of children's safety."

You can read the full open letter here.

NICE guidelines to improve diagnosis, assessment, and prevention of FASD

ADOPTION UK welcomes NICE's (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) latest quality standard which sets out how health and care services can improve the diagnosis, assessment, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). There are thousands of children, young people, and adults with FASD living in the UK, many undiagnosed. FASD is a brain based neurodevelopment condition resulting from an alcohol exposed pregnancy. FASD is the most common known cause of neurodevelopmental disability in the UK. A lifelong condition, it affects individuals differently.

In 2021, the UK's 1st prevalence study from the University of Salford showed 2-4% of young people had FASD (a rate higher than autism). Across the general population these figures are thought to be higher (3.25-5%), and within specific vulnerable groups, such as those who are care experienced, this could be much higher. For many, and for too long, FASD has been unrecognised or misdiagnosed. The introduction of the NICE quality standards for FASD marks a significant step change in recognising the condition in England and Wales.

NICE's quality standard, which is published today, highlights 5 key areas for improvement:-

► Pregnant women are given advice throughout pregnancy not to drink alcohol.

► Pregnant women are asked about their alcohol use throughout their pregnancy, and this is recorded.

► Children and young people with probable prenatal alcohol exposure and significant physical, developmental, or behavioural difficulties are referred for assessment.

► Children and young people with confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure or all 3 facial features associated with prenatal alcohol exposure have a neurodevelopmental assessment if there are clinical concerns.

► Children and young people with a diagnosis of FASD have a management plan to address their needs.

The SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) 156 Children and Young People Exposed Parentally to Alcohol Guidelines (2019) means children and young people in Scotland have a route to diagnosis. The new NICE Quality Standards on FASD has adopted the SIGN 156 Guidelines in respect of diagnosis.

Aliy Brown, FASD Hub Project Manager and Adoption UK FASD Lead, said:- "The introduction of the NICE quality standards has been long awaited. Today is a time to pause and celebrate. Next, we need to make sure the professionals for whom the guidance is written fully understand how to use them. This is just the start of ensuring everyone with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure receives the support and understanding they so deserve and need throughout their lives."

Adoption UK's 2020 Adoption Barometer report revealed 1 in 4 adopted children are either diagnosed with, or suspected to have, FASD. More than ½ of families polled had waited 2 years or longer for a diagnosis, and more than ¾ felt healthcare professionals lacked basic knowledge about the condition, even though FASD is more common than autism.