Etiket: sosyal medya

UK Bans Instagram Betting Ads Featuring Kane and Haaland for Irresponsibility

Two adverts featuring football stars Harry Kane and Erling Haaland on Instagram have been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog for being deemed “i

Two adverts featuring football stars Harry Kane and Erling Haaland on Instagram have been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog for being deemed “irresponsible”. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has stated that these ads, promoting an online betting site, breached their guidelines because Kane and Haaland have a “strong appeal to under-18s”.

The ads in question were posted by Oddschecker, which argued that the content was “primarily editorial in nature, rather than ads,” claiming they had set the account to be accessible only to those aged 18 and over. However, the ASA pointed out that a significant number of children often do not use their real date of birth when signing up for platforms like Instagram. This investigation, initiated after a complaint from a Bristol University researcher, looked into the adverts from November last year.

One of the banned ads displayed a picture of Kane with the caption: “Harry Kane is the most backed player to win the Ballon d’Or in 2026 (32% of bets),” accompanied by a trophy emoji. The other ad featured Haaland, stating: “In the last 24 hours, Norway to win the 2026 World Cup is the most-backed bet placed through Oddschecker.”

Cyan Blue Odds Ltd, the company behind Oddschecker, acknowledged that featuring prominent footballers could indeed attract children. They maintained that the posts were not advertisements but rather general “editorial” content, which is why there were no disclaimers regarding age restrictions or responsible gambling messages. The ASA, however, rejected this defense, emphasizing that both Kane and Haaland have a high risk of appealing to younger audiences. They concluded that the ads were irresponsible and violated the advertising code.

Interestingly, the ASA did find another Instagram advertisement featuring former Arsenal player Thierry Henry compliant with their rules. They noted that Henry is unlikely to appeal strongly to those under 18, thus it did not breach the advertising code.

As the conversation around social media and advertising continues, some parents are left wondering how effectively the government will act to regulate such issues. Rhun ap Iorwerth pointed out that schools will have the authority to make their own rules, with a ban on Instagram betting ads expected in England. Meanwhile, a group of teenagers have expressed their reliance on social media for survival, while one school head described the situation as “a disaster”.

The landscape of social media has shifted dramatically from a space for friends to connect to an environment designed to maximize user engagement and, consequently, advertising revenue.

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

Social Media: A Threat to Youth Health Comparable to Smoking, Say Top Doctors

Social media use ranks with smoking as a threat to the health of young people, according to the UK’s most senior doctors. In a recent government cons

Social media use ranks with smoking as a threat to the health of young people, according to the UK’s most senior doctors. In a recent government consultation regarding social media for under-16s, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is urging doctors to routinely check on screen time and social media habits when they see younger patients. This revelation has sparked a heated debate, with no consensus in the scientific community about the overall harm of screen time for children.

Meanwhile, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has announced that new measures targeting social media use for under-16s will roll out by the end of the year, as the consultation period wraps up. One option on the table is banning social media for children, similar to actions taken in Australia. “The question isn’t whether we’re going to act – we will,” Kendall emphasized in an interview with the BBC. She mentioned that the government is exploring a broad range of issues and features that affect youth, which might lead to a closer examination of platforms not covered by Australia’s restrictions, such as Roblox and Discord.

The consultation has garnered significant attention, with 70,000 submissions from charities, campaign groups, and the public sharing their views on potential bans or other measures. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has highlighted the physical and mental health issues linked to exposure to extreme violence online. They recommend that doctors receive guidance on identifying unhealthy social media use and suggested recording the potential harms to fill in the data gaps regarding this pressing issue.

There’s a variety of opinions on how to tackle the problem. Some groups have voiced strong support for an outright ban, including police leaders who argue that any platform failing to eliminate certain features should be restricted for under-16s. A heart-wrenching example comes from Ellen Roome, whose son Jools tragically died at 14 in 2022. Ellen, along with other bereaved families, plans to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to push for raising the access age for harmful social media platforms to 16. “Social media is a product, and like any faulty product causing the deaths of children, it should be restricted until it is proven safe,” Ellen declared.

Conversely, some campaigners argue that simply stopping access to social media would be counterproductive for children. Reports from Australia indicate children have found ways to access sites that were supposed to be blocked for under-16s, raising concerns about the effectiveness of such laws. Ian Russell, the chair of the online safety charity the Molly Rose Foundation, believes that existing laws should be enforced instead of implementing sweeping bans. An open letter from child safety charities advocates for tech companies to align with the British Board of Film Classification, which sets age ratings for films, to ensure teens are protected under similar standards.

As for the tech companies, it remains unclear how they have responded to the government’s consultation or the proposals for banning social media for under-16s in the UK. However, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has suggested that age verification should occur on a device level to prevent underage children from downloading certain apps. Kendall has assured that she will move forward with action, even if major tech companies resist. “No one’s going to stop me from doing what I think is right for this country,” she stated confidently.

The conversation around social media is complex and evolving. Some teenagers claim they need it “to survive,” yet others, including educators, warn that it may be a “disaster” for their wellbeing. The World Happiness Report indicates a direct correlation between time spent on social media and declining mental health. As young people’s views are included in the government consultation, the question remains: how will the government balance the need for online safety with the reality of social media’s role in young people’s lives?

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

UK Police Urge Ban on Social Media for Children Under 16 Amid Safety Concerns

Children under 16 should be barred from social media, gaming, and artificial intelligence apps that include private messaging features, according to

Children under 16 should be barred from social media, gaming, and artificial intelligence apps that include private messaging features, according to police bosses in the UK. This recommendation comes from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the National Crime Agency (NCA), emphasizing the urgent need for safer online environments for minors. The statement highlights the dangers posed by platforms that fail to protect children from harmful content, allow the sharing of nude photos, or enable strangers to contact young users.

This call for action aligns with the UK government’s recent consultation regarding a social media ban for those under 16. The government has voiced its support for the regulator Ofcom to take strong measures against tech companies that inadequately safeguard children online. Presently, discussions are underway in the UK about potential strategies such as implementing age limits, outright bans, or setting app curfews, while also aiming to make it impossible for children to take, share, or view nude images. However, according to the NCA, these efforts may be too little, too late. “Our assessment is clear: the online environment in its current form is not safe for children. The industry response has been too slow, while the problem has been getting worse. Enough is enough,” stated NCA director general Graeme Biggar.

Biggar further pointed out that tech companies face a choice: either they must effectively prevent children from accessing dangerous features or make those features safe for young users. Failure to do so should result in a government ban for those under 16. In a similar vein, NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens described the current online space as a “wild west,” where regulation and law are lagging behind rapidly advancing technology. “The risk to children and the harms caused are severe and wide-ranging. The online space has made it too easy for criminals, abusers, fraudsters, and extremists to target the most vulnerable in our society and destroy lives,” said Stephens.

Both agencies, however, clarified that they would prefer to enable children to safely enjoy the benefits of social media and the internet rather than pushing for a total ban. Some features found on social media platforms pose significant risks to children, according to police assessments. These features should be removed from any apps intended for minors, including the ease of finding a large number of children and the unmonitored contact with strangers, particularly adults. Other concerning elements include encrypted or private messaging, as well as algorithms that promote illegal or harmful content. The ability to share or stream nude images also heightens the danger on several platforms, compounded by inadequate age checks to prevent children from accessing adult content.

Despite many of these risks already being addressed in the Online Safety Act in the UK, which outlines rules and codes for platforms, numerous companies continue to flout these regulations. While Ofcom has the authority to investigate and impose fines on such companies, the police agencies are advocating for Ofcom to have the power to enforce minimum age policies and tighten controls on nudity at the device level. This would ideally curtail minors from taking, sharing, or streaming nude images and videos, especially as cases of child sexual abuse linked to online activity continue to rise alarmingly in the UK.

Some platforms, including Apple, Instagram, and TikTok, have initiated measures to prevent children from seeing or sending nude content in messages by disabling direct messaging technology. This comes amid growing concerns that end-to-end encrypted messaging is hindering efforts to prevent grooming and child abuse. Nevertheless, worries about potential data leaks and compromised online privacy persist if private messaging features are discontinued.

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber