‘Kids are being harmed online’: Campaign calls for legislation to regulate tech companies [Video]

A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN calling on the Government to protect children online has been launched.

‘Gen Free: Free to be Kids’ wants to see legislation introduced which would force social media companies and digital service providers to guarantee that children are not viewing harmful content online. 

The campaign is a joint collaboration between several organisations seeking to ensure a safer online experience for children and young people.

The launch event, which was held at Temple Carrig Secondary School in Greystones last night, was attended by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and HSE Senior Medical Officer Dr Catherine Conlon. 

The campaign has outlined three priorities which it wants to see implemented in the lifetime of the next Dáil. 

As well as regulatory legislation, it also wants to see primary and secondary schools be smartphone-free and for digital literacy to become a fourth pillar of the education system. This would include the resourcing of …