Facebook is awaited to turn down the ‘like button’ feature in the UK particularly. Due to the concern of children safety who remain online often. Find out more.
The convenience of social media is something that has gone out of hands now, at least the parents in the UK feel so. It is difficult to ask the kids unaffected from social media networks. This might become a challenge for Facebook, and more so due to this ‘Like’ button, children are being influenced in a bad way, they are so obsessed about the likes count on their profile. Seriously, an issue of concern for most parents.
According to an influential report, the Facebook Like button is going to be banned in the UK. As per a new draft code regularized by the UK’s data watchdog, ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office, these codes have set out standards to be matched by Facebook and Snapchat. The two being the most popular among the children are prime targets for ICO.
No more ‘nudge’
The standards clearly state that Facebook must not use any ‘nudge techniques’ to encourage the kids to use the service for long hours. Similarly, in the case of Snapchat as well, the new code claims that these networks push youth to stay active and engaged in the networks, which allows the companies to access and gather more personal data at long hours stretch.
(See also: Facebook’s New ‘Secret Crush’ Feature Is Going to Swamp Other Dating Apps)
By using Nudge techniques, social media networks and online games allow the excessive supply of personal data by making the children opt for a low-privacy option rather than high-privacy. Due to this minor help, online services can get access to children’s data, which is no more going to be ignored.
Solution
To stop this frequently used practice, ICO has initiated a total of 16 standards for online services that include social media networks, online games, and Applications. These standards will make sure that the default setting is of ‘high privacy’ to ensure that the personal data is retained to the maximum level. With this, geolocation services are automatically deactivated.
Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham said “This is the connected generation. The internet and all its wonders are hardwired into their everyday lives. We shouldn’t have to prevent our children from being able to use it, but we must demand that they are protected when they do. This code does that.”
Also, She added, ”The new code by ICO is an important step, it is a part of the solution to avoid ‘online harms’, which is also a subject of concern in a recent government White Paper.
This statement and implementation of the new code is going to make the companies cautious about what practices they follow on the web and will add safety to children and other vulnerable groups.
(See also: Facebook Video Monetization: All You Need to Know)
In response to this major change, the National Society for Prevention of cruelty to children (NSPCC) also stated that the social networks had failed to prioritize child safety in their design, which at the time has led to drastic consequences.
Despite the level of support, this new code has received from different welfare associations and centers. There are fingers to point out the responsibility angle of parents in all of this. Some strongly argue about the role of parents and how are they responsible for everything their child is doing, it has nothing to do with the outside world.
Statements against the code are also being made irrespective of the fact that social media networks are in favor of protecting child safety.
Some trade experts are blaming the government for levying heavy fines for many online companies indirectly.
For more on this, stay updated. If you have something to add, let us know.
