In today’s digital panorama, the protection of online minors has become an improof priority. In response to this growing need, Meta has announced a significant collaboration with the NO-profit Childhelp organization, which resulted in the creation of an educational curriculum specifically designed for middle school students. The didactic program aims to provide young people with the tools necessary to recognize and face the pitfalls of the online environment, with particular attention to worrying phenomena such as “sextortion” scams and the adaptation (grooming). The curriculum, entirely financed by Meta, is made available free of schools, parents and organizations, testifying to the company’s concrete commitment to promote digital security.
The realization of this project saw the participation of prominent experts in the field of juvenile security. Professionals of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, of the United States Department of Internal Security, the No-Profit Thorn Organization, the Purdue University and the Crims Against Children Research Center have contributed with their skills, guaranteeing a rigorous and based approach on evidence. Childhelp, a key partner in this initiative, boasts a long experience in assistance to children victims of abuse and negligence, and actively engaged in raising awareness of the theme of child protection.
The Meta initiative is part of a larger context of growing attention to the safety of minors on digital platforms. The company has intensified its efforts in this area, introducing, for example, more restrictive predefined settings for teenage accounts on Instagram and new features to combat the phenomenon of “sextortion”, such as the block of screenshots in private chats with photos Retractable. At the same time, at the legislative level, there is a ferment of bills aimed at strengthening the protection of minors online. Initiatives such as the Kids Online Safety Act and the 2.0 Cup have gained land in the Senate of the United States, while the recent Kids Off Social Media Act aims to prohibit the creation of account on social media for minors under 13 years. Some states have already promulgated laws on the subject, although many of these are currently subject to legal disputes.