It’s as new regulations and Ofcom requirements kick into force today
Author: A SPublished 46 minutes ago
Parents across Staffordshire and Cheshire are being urged to keep talking to their children about what they’re doing online – as new rules kick in tackling illegal activity.
Ofcom gave tech firms until today to make sure their platforms are tackling things like fraud, terrorism, suicide and child grooming.
Professor Catherine Flick is an expert in online ethics and safety from the University of Staffordshire.
She said: “There’s two sides to protecting children from harm, one is stopping them from viewing the content another is from the child’s perspective is building resilience for what happens if they do see that content. That’s where parents and schools can step in to help children build that resilience and give them to tools to know what to do.
“This needs to be a constant conversation, just like you’d ask your kid what their day was like at school today. It also needs to be part of the curriculum on how to be a good digital citizen, not just being good online yourself but actually learning skills on how to deal with other peoples behaviour and problematic content.”
What Ofcom requires tech firms to deliver
From 17 March 2025, sites and apps will then need to start implementing safety measures to mitigate serious risks, and codes are now set out on measures firm can take.
Ofcom says it wants…
Senior accountability for safety. To ensure strict accountability, each provider should name a senior person accountable to their most senior governance body for compliance with their illegal content, reporting and complaints duties.
Better moderation, easier reporting and built-in safety tests. Tech firms will need to make sure their moderation teams are appropriately resourced and trained and are set robust performance targets, so they can remove illegal material quickly when they become aware of it, such as illegal suicide content. Reporting and complaints functions will be easier to find and use, with appropriate action taken in response. Relevant providers will also need to improve the testing of their algorithms to make illegal content harder to disseminate.
Protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation online. While developing our codes and guidance, we heard from thousands of children and parents about their online experiences, as well as professionals who work with them. New research, published today, also highlights children’s experiences of sexualised messages online[4], as well as teenage children’s views on our proposed safety measures aimed at preventing adult predators from grooming and sexually abusing children.[5] Many young people we spoke to felt interactions with strangers, including adults or users perceived to be adults, are currently an inevitable part of being online, and they described becoming ‘desensitised’ to receiving sexualised messages. Protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation online. While developing our codes and guidance, we heard from thousands of children and parents about their online experiences, as well as professionals who work with them. New research, published today, also highlights children’s experiences of sexualised messages online[4], as well as teenage children’s views on our proposed safety measures aimed at preventing adult predators from grooming and sexually abusing children. Many young people we spoke to felt interactions with strangers, including adults or users perceived to be adults, are currently an inevitable part of being online, and they described becoming ‘desensitised’ to receiving sexualised messages.
Professor Flick from the University of Staffordshire added that it’s inevitable that children will continue to come across harmful and problematic content. “As children get older they’re going to be exposed to different material or they’re going to be affected in different ways.” she said.
“So children going through puberty are going to be affected by self-image issues and vulnerable to content that plays on that, yes it will change as the child grows so this must be a constant conversation.”
First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.
The Australian prime minister has criticised a US influencer after she stole a baby wombat from her mother.
“Take a baby crocodile from his mother and see how you go there,” he told journalists during a news conference.
Sam Jones, who describes herself as an “outdoor enthusiast and hunter” on Instagram, was filmed picking up a baby wombat by an unidentified road and running across it to a car, while its mother ran after them.
The video, which was filmed in Australia, has since been deleted and Ms Jones’s Instagram account set to private.
Ms Jones’s visa is being reviewed by immigration officials, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told the BBC, amid calls for her to be deported.
In an emotional and direct rebuttal to GOLDMEDALIST’s recent statement issued on behalf of actor Kim Soo Hyun, the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron has once again spoken out through the Garosero Research Institute’s YouTube channel. In a lengthy and impassioned response, Kim Sae Ron’s father condemned the actor, his agency, and YouTuber Lee Jin Ho for what he described as their failure to acknowledge the harm they caused to his daughter.
The core of his criticism was aimed at the agency’s response to the legal notice sent to Kim Sae Ron, demanding that she repay a substantial sum of 700 million KRW (approximately 482,000 USD). According to the father, the statement from GOLDMEDALIST, which appeared to be drafted with the assistance of top-tier legal counsel, was designed not to provide clarity or address the emotional and ethical concerns surrounding Kim Sae Ron’s situation, but instead to limit any potential legal or reputational fallout for both the actor and the agency.
“But will the public believe what was said? Just because Kim Soo Hyun and/or the agency do not admit to it, does it make the letter any less romantic in nature? Do you think it’s right to keep pushing the narrative that the legal team came up with? Even after seeing the letter?” the father questioned.
“Has GOLD MEDALIST filed a lawsuit or report for embezzlement against Kim Soo Hyun or the CEO, Lee Sa Rang? Is that why the agency sent Sae Ron a legal notice demanding the 700 million KRW (about 482,000 USD) be paid back in 13 months, threatening to sue if not paid?”
He went on to emphasize how the agency’s lack of communication with Kim Sae Ron regarding the legal notice left her in a state of confusion and distress. The father explained that Kim Sae Ron had made multiple attempts to reach out to the agency to clarify whether the demand for repayment was truly Kim Soo Hyun’s decision or the agency’s own initiative. However, despite her best efforts, she received no response, forcing her to endure further isolation at a time when she most needed support.
He revealed, “Bringing up an absurd ’embezzlement’ talk does that make those actions right. So, please stop playing these childish games. At no point did anyone from GOLD MEDALIST reach out to Sae Ron and tell her not to be surprised. No one told her that the legal notice was part of a legal process that the agency was following.”
Adding further to the tension, Kim Sae Ron’s father sharply criticized Lee Jin Ho, a YouTuber who had previously posted videos making disparaging remarks about his daughter. The videos, which have since been taken down, accused Kim Sae Ron of mistreating staff and being a disruptive figure on set. In his rebuttal, the father strongly denied these claims, pointing to the many colleagues, co-stars, and staff members who had attended Kim Sae Ron’s wake—a stark contrast to the absence of representatives from GOLDMEDALIST, despite the agency’s long association with the actress.
“After she was ignored endlessly, Sae Ron posted the photo [of her and Kim Soo Hyun] to spark some sort of response. Yet, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho mocked her by posting a video with a thumbnail reading, ‘The Real Reason Actress Kim Sae Ron Has Gone Wild.’ In the video, Lee Jin Ho asked, ‘What’s going on with her? Why is she causing so much controversy?’” the father stated.
This accusation, according to the father, completely misrepresented Kim Sae Ron’s actions, which were, in fact, an attempt to get a response from the agency and the actor who had ignored her for so long. Kim Sae Ron’s father continued to criticize Lee Jin Ho’s handling of the situation, accusing him of sensationalizing her struggles and using them for personal gain.
In addition to attacking Kim Sae Ron’s character, Lee Jin Ho had also insinuated that she lacked proper social skills due to her early start in the entertainment industry, suggesting that her behavior was a result of her upbringing on film sets rather than a normal, stable family life. The father, once again, rejected these claims, insisting that Kim Sae Ron had always been part of a loving, supportive family and that Lee Jin Ho’s attacks were baseless.
The father also took issue with Lee Jin Ho’s continual speculation about Kim Sae Ron’s post-incident life, particularly regarding her decision to work at a café. Lee Jin Ho had suggested that her job was an attempt to regain relevance and that she was letting loose after a period of hardship. In a pointed remark, Kim Sae Ron’s father questioned Lee Jin Ho’s sources, accusing him of fabricating details for his stories and misrepresenting his daughter’s actions. “I just want to know, who were the acquaintances that you spoke to? But I have a feeling that he didn’t speak to anyone and the ‘acquaintances’ are him and his buddies instead.”
In his closing remarks, Kim Sae Ron’s father expressed his disbelief that a self-proclaimed reporter like Lee Jin Ho could spread such damaging rumors without verifying them, ultimately transforming personal opinions into public news.
“After all those videos, after all the things he said… Who would believe that Lee Jin Ho was trying to help Sae Ron? Would his family and children believe him? Would he be willing to show his videos to his parents, look them in the eyes and say he was honestly trying to help? Can he interview them and ask if they think what he did was the right thing?”
Also Read
Kim Soo Hyun-Kim Sae Ron scandal timeline so far: Dating confirmation, ‘miss you-love you’ letters, controversial photo leaks, more
Despite having six bids for parole rejected, according to the Parole Board for England and Wales, he was moved to an open prison at the beginning of March this year.
That means he is eligible to leave for short periods of time under licence to take part in work, or to see a family member who is seriously ill.
Ms Nash is terrified at the news her ex-partner has been moved to an open prison (Family Handout/PA Wire)
Ms Nash said she is “really scared” for her safety – and the safety of other women – after learning of the move.
“I don’t think he’ll leave it, especially because I’ve spoken out about what he’s done,” she said.
“I think that he has been sitting there this whole entire time kicking himself that he did not finish me off.”
Laura Richards, a criminal behavioural analyst and former head of the Homicide Prevention Unit of the Metropolitan Police, said she is “appalled” by the decision to move Jenkin to an open prison.
“I’m extremely concerned about the decision to move Jenkin to an open prison, readying him for release after such a short time and given his appalling and sadistic violent acts to Tina,” Ms Richards said.
“There is too much weight and focus on Jenkin’s ‘right to freedom’ rather than where it should be, on Tina’s right to life and safety and the safety of the public.”
Ms Nash, who met Jenkin at a club in Penzance in August 2009, said the first eight months of their relationship was loving until he “turned on her”.
Shane Jenkin was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum six-year term, in 2012 (PA)
In the last year of their relationship, the violence intensified.
On the night of his final attack, he rolled her in a blanket, strangled and beat her.
“I don’t remember him jumping on me. I don’t remember him beating me. I don’t remember him gouging my eyes out. I don’t remember him rolling me up. He thought I was dead.”
Ms Nash had several operations following the attack, but surgeons were unable to save her eyes.
She has since had reconstructive surgery to implant prosthetic eyes.
Jenkin was sentenced at Truro Crown Court in May 2012 and detained in a secure mental health unit.
Ms Nash said the attack by Jenkin has “completely ruined” her life.
“I try every single day to stay positive, but no matter what, it’s still always there, and it’s not going away,” she said.
“I dream every single night and it feels like I’ve just lost my sight yesterday.”
Ms Nash outside Truro Crown Court in 2012 (Rod Minchin/PA Wire)
She still suffers panic attacks and is on medication for anxiety.
“I was a free spirit, I loved life, I was a DJ – I loved being out with my friends,” she said.
“All the panic attacks and the anxiety attacks just ruined me as a person.
“The amount of days and years that I sat downstairs on my own on the edge of the sofa, tortured, shaking, freaking out – he’ll never know what he’s done to me.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with Ms Nash.
“All prisoners, including those serving life sentences, must pass a robust risk assessment before any move to open conditions and we do not hesitate to move them back to closed prisons if they break the rules.”
Ms Nash has set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe to raise money for security improvements at her home if Jenkin is released.
A local swimming pool has come under fire over claims it kicked out ‘every Aboriginal visitor’ because of a couple of children misbehaving in the water.
An outraged parent shared footage of Aboriginal children standing on the side of a pool while police officers spoke to a lifeguard at Inverell Aquatic Centre, in northern NSW, on Sunday.
‘We were going to the pool to drop money off for (my) son to get a feed,’ they said on Facebook.
‘We then saw [the police] talking to a couple of parents so we went to see what was going on.
‘Apparently there were a couple of boys not listening and then they have just gone and kicked everyone out that was Aboriginal, adults included, and tried to justify by saying it was just for the day.’
In the footage, Aboriginal children were seen standing in groups and holding their towels at the entrance to the pool.
Belgravia Leisure, an organisation that co-manages the centre with Inverell Shire Council, said the video was inaccurate.
A spokesman said officers were called ‘in response to a group of youths who refused to cease anti-social behaviour, despite multiple requests from team members’.
A local swimming pool has come under fire over claims it kicked out ‘every Aboriginal visitor’ because of a couple of children misbehaving in the water (pictured, children standing in groups near the entrance)
‘These youths were escorted from the premises by police,’ he said.
‘Whilst at the venue, police identified two other adult patrons also displaying anti-social behaviour. Both adults were also escorted from the premises.
‘We want to be clear that at no stage were any patrons asked to leave unless they were directly involved in anti-social behaviour.
‘We are concerned about the inaccuracies in a live video posted on social media, which falsely suggests otherwise.’
The organisation said it has a ‘zero-tolerance policy for anti-social, discriminatory, or abusive behaviour’ and it is committed to inclusivity.
NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia officers arrived and heard from a manager who identified a group of 20 people, including adults and children who were being unsafe, not following instructions, and rude to staff.
‘They had been asked to leave, however, were refusing,’ a statement said.
‘Police spoke to the group who continued to be hostile, yelling and filming officers.’
A parent shared video of Aboriginal children standing on the side of a pool while police officers spoke to a lifeguard at Inverell Aquatic Centre, in northern NSW , on Sunday
The group was issued a move on direction which was followed and they were escorted from Inverell Aquatic Centre.
The facility said it was cooperating with the police investigation.
Inverell mayor Kate Dight said the council was aware of an ‘incident’.
‘Management sought the assistance of NSW Police in dealing with the incident,’ she said.
‘Council supports the actions of the Centre Manager in ensuring the safety of users and staff.
Inverell locals were divided over the incident, with some from the scene claiming children were not following the rules while others slammed the ‘degrading’ behaviour of police and pool staff.
‘That’s disgusting. All their little faces look so confused,’ a person wrote.
Another said: ‘Disgraceful. Shame on you Inverell pool staff and Inverell Shire Council.’
‘It’s not about the pulling the ‘racist card’, it’s straight up discrimination,’ a third added.
Meanwhile, a local from the pool said: ‘I have witnessed these kids all continuously not follow the rules!!
‘How many warnings does it take for anyone to follow the rules.’
The multimillion-dollar aquatic centre opened in February, after construction began at the pool in November 2023.
It has a 20m indoor pool, a 50m outdoor pool, an indoor splash park and toddler pool.
On Sunday Mason Disick made his first social media post since his mom, Kourtney Kardashian, addressed the rumors that he had a ‘secret’ baby
The reality star recently denied wild claims her reclusive teenager had fathered a child
In the photo, the eldest son of Kardashian, 45, and Scott Disick, 41, and his friend were both decked out in Chrome Hearts and sported baggy jeans.
The famous teenager, whose last grid post was from the summer of 2024, sported a pink hoodie with designs on the sleeves.
He paired the colorful sweatshirt with a shiny silver belt chain and black, wide-leg jeans.
At the beginning of the month, his mother was forced to break her silence after rampant and unsubstantiated rumors about Mason started circulating on social media.
Kardashian shut down the theories that her eldest child had quietly welcomed a daughter named Piper last year with a classmate.
On March 2, the eldest Kardashian sibling took to her Instagram Story to deny the rumors.
‘I rarely address rumors or conspiracies regarding myself or my family, but this is about my child and it feels wrong to let anyone think for a second that these lies are remotely true. They are not.’
The mother-of-four wrote: ‘Mason does not have a child. These accounts that pretend to be him are definitely not. They are FAKE.
His post comes shortly after his mother addressed the rumors that the 15-year-old fathered a child with one of his classmates; pictured alongside brother Reign Disick
At the beginning of the month, his mother was forced to break her silence after rampant and unsubstantiated rumors about Mason started circulating on social media. Kardashian shut down the theories that her eldest child had quietly welcomed a daughter named Piper last year with a classmate; pictured with sister Penelope Disick
She went on to ask the public to ‘please stop spreading false narratives and spinning lies.’ ‘And to all the other people making videos about my kids (who, by the way, are minors), please stop and leave them alone,’ she concluded; pictured with Scott Disick as well as Kim Kardashian and her kids
‘My son really values his privacy, and I am asking all media to please be respectful: He is a kid with feelings and a beautiful life ahead of him.’
She went on to ask the public to ‘please stop spreading false narratives and spinning lies.’
‘And to all the other people making videos about my kids (who, by the way, are minors), please stop and leave them alone,’ she concluded.
Just days before her statement, a social media account purporting to be Mason’s ‘secret Instagram’ posted photos of a baby girl and claimed it was his daughter in follow-up posts.
Warning! The following contains spoilers for the 90 Day Fiancé episode “Love Is Not Enough.” Stream it with a Max subscription and read at your own risk!
Stevi Savage and Mahdi Al-Saadi seemed like they might be the first couple to call it quits from 90 Day Fiancé Season 11, considering the latter was already asking about returning to Iran during his first night in the United States. Fortunately, he cooled down a bit before the next major hurdle in their journey to marriage: meeting Stevi’s family. Her father seemed like the bigger issue, as he’d only learned of Mahdi’s existence a couple of days prior.
When the Mississippian revealed to her father she was dating a man from Iran, his initial thoughts were negative, but not wholly unexpected. And that’s a big reason why I’ve been dreading this meeting for a while since I wasn’t wholly sure if Stevi’s dad was more upset about his daughter hiding her relationship, or that she was with someone from a country with historically complicated ties to the U.S. It all came to a head at Stevi’s parents’ house during dinner, and I’m still pleasantly surprised by what happened.
Stevi’s Father Had Concerns, But None Of His Questions Had To Do With Mahdi’s Cultural Background
I’m quite familiar with watching family members making stereotypical and borderline-racist comments on 90 Day Fiancé, so I was bracing myself for how dinner would go once Stevi’s father addressed her revelation that Mahdi is from Iran. While I think it’s more than fair to bring up cultural differences leading to romantic incompatibility (as we recently saw with Veah Netherton and Sunny Mahdi), things can quickly turn offensive when discussing religious differences and other societal topics.
Fortunately, Stevi’s father only wanted to know if 90 days was enough time for either to make a good decision about getting married. I would wager he’s not the first family member to ask that question, but based on the guidelines of the K1 visa, those are the rules that all couples must adhere to. Overall, I think his question was fair and respectful, and I’m thankful he didn’t cross any lines.
Will Cultural Concerns About Mahdi’s Life In Iran Become An Issue?
When 90 Day Fiancé cast members from the Middle East transition from well-accustomed lives to making a new life for themselves in the United States, it’s often been a struggle. Tigerlily and Adnan Abdelfattah have had arguments about clothing and other everyday details, for instance, and we’ve seen similar issues with other couples, like Nicole and Mahmoud Sherbiny.
While I have no read on whether or not any eventual setbacks will happen, I will say that Mahdi seems far more on board with American life than other Middle Easterners we’ve seen on 90 Day Fiancé. I could always be wrong, but it doesn’t seem he and Stevi will have the same problems that some of the other couples from similar backgrounds had.
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
What I see as a problem is the reality that Mahdi might have to say goodbye to all of his family in Iran. As he revealed in the 90 Day Fiancé Season 11 premiere, leaving Iran for the United States means that he may never be able to return to his country again freely.
Doing so could lead to his arrest, and in such a case, he may never be able to see his family or friends in-person again. He’s already weighing the trade off for a life with Stevi in the United States, but we’ll just have to wait and see if he decides it’s worth it or hop a flight back to Iran before it’s too late.
Drama like this makes 90 Day Fiancé one of the best shows on the 2025 TV schedule. Catch new episodes on TLC on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET, and stick with CinemaBlend for more updates on these couples as Season 11 continues.
THE mother of the hero cop murdered by a notorious asylum seeking gangster blasted Britain for being too soft on him yesterday.
Retired maths teacher Katia Bano, 77, fought back tears as she told how her detective son Klenti was gunned down by hitmen sent by Albanian mafia boss Maksim Cela.
1
Albanian mafia boss Maksim Cela
Cela, 59, has sparked outrage by battling to stay in the UK on human rights grounds claiming he is at risk from rival mobsters back home.
Cela is walking free on British streets while battling to stay on human rights grounds claiming he is at risk from rival mobsters back home.
The Sun exclusively revealed – after a two year court battle to lift a ban on naming him – that he fled to the UK just five days after serving half of a 25-year jail term.
Klenti’s mum Katia spoke for the first time yesterday of her fury that the 59-year-old crimelord has shown no remorse while running rings around Britain’s asylum system.
She said: “I am amazed how Maksim Cela managed to get into the UK and that the killer of my son is free there now.
“He deserved life in prison for murdering an innocent man who was serving the state and I don’t understand why he is tolerated in Britain.
“It really upsets me knowing he has a new life there and my son is in his grave.”
Hamas fanatic FILMS himself arriving in Britain on small boat after terror thug posted pics with assault rifles
I know I’m not alone as a parent when I admit I have often felt like an exasperated failure in trying to restrict what my children see online. There were the times they hacked their devices’ screen time settings, or managed to stumble into inappropriate content in spite of the controls, not to mention the ever inventive workarounds to access restricted sites. Worst of all is the ill will the rigmarole creates between us all. So when in the first minute of my conversation with digital parenting coach Elizabeth Milovidov, she says, “I think parents need to just kind of give themselves a hug, breathe and start over,” I feel so heard and comforted I could cry.
“Parents are incredibly busy. They’re overwhelmed,” says Milovidov. “And then this whole idea of trying to lock things down is not easy. I remember trying to learn how to programme a VCR, and it was just like: oh my God.” And yet she herself, a parent of teens, seems so chill. She admits having watched far too much TV in the 70s, and she has turned out OK; she has a PhD and is an international consultant on tech and parenting.
What emerges from speaking with Milovidov and other experts in this field is that what is often needed is not so much a nuts-and-bolts guide to the ever-updating technical side of parental controls as a pep talk on mindset, communication and what’s realistically possible.
“There’s no way of sugar-coating it,” says Luke Savage, senior project officer at NSPCC Child Safety Online. “There are so many different elements that it is complicated and laborious. From the wifi router in the home to the device in a child’s hand, the computer console they’re playing on and the apps or games themselves – each one has individual settings and controls.” And even when parents have waded through it all, says Savage, they can’t “put their feet up and think: my work here is done. There are limitations to parental controls. They’re not perfect – children can bypass them if they’re clever enough.” These tools are a mere step in a far more nuanced process which, he says, “comes down to conversation and communication”.
Photograph: Posed by model; Hraun/Getty Images
Start talking about the internet early
“It’s not about controlling our children, and it’s not about fear,” says Milovidov. “It is about empowering them to make smart decisions, and we do that when they are at a very young age. We are trying to teach them how to behave when we are not in the room, when we are not looking over their shoulder – that’s what digital guardianship is.”
“The second they start to use technology, have those conversations in an appropriate manner and using language that’s suitable,” says Savage. Milovidov agrees: “What I always tell parents is that it doesn’t matter so much about the parental controls, as long as you’re talking to them, because even if you lock down that smartphone, that iPad, that gaming console, they are going to hear about [inappropriate content]. You’ve got to give them some strategies beforehand about what to do if somebody tries to show them something that they know is not appropriate.”
There’s a sense, she says, that if your child does see something inappropriate, you’ve failed. “I would just tell parents to believe in themselves a bit more. It’s inevitable that they’re going to see something at some point.”
Router first
The most important place to start with safety restrictions, says Savage, “is the wifi router. That’s where you can block inappropriate websites and things like that.” There should be a step-by-step guide on your provider’s website. Although bear in mind that if a child’s phone has unlimited mobile data they can access at home, the router will be out of the equation.
Get to know the platforms
Generally, in tech, instruction manuals are a thing of the past; you just switch it on and the rest is intuitive bliss, supposedly. But with parental controls, taking a few minutes to read the guidance will make it a less seat-of-the-pants situation. (I recommend, with bitter hindsight, doing this before even introducing a new digital device or platform – any online space for socialising, gaming or streaming – into the family.) Milovidov says that there is usually good information on the websites for individual platforms, “including screenshots showing you step by step how to do some of the harder stuff”. The non-profit organisation Internet Matters has all sorts of guides to parental controls on its site. “They have great set-up tools for anything – TikTok, Roblox, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, all of the games.”
Check settings regularly
The NSPCC advises going back in at regular intervals. For a start, settings can be tampered with. “Let’s be honest – a child might think: ‘I can bypass parental controls.’” This is where that communication comes in: a child is more likely to respect the rules, “if they understand why you’re using certain settings, and there’s a suggestion that things will change as they get older, as happens in the real world.” But as with the real world, pushing boundaries is just what children do. “They can search for ‘how do I bypass my parental filter?’”
There’s also the issue that platforms often change and update their parental settings, says Savage, “so the parent might need to check on a semi-regular basis to make sure that the settings are still as they were”. Updates tend to be for the better, he adds, but sometimes this means there are new options that you need to decide whether or not to activate.
Finally, there’s the fact that children get older. “That setting from when they were five years old probably isn’t relevant when they’re 12.”
Rethink screen time
Screen time is less of a safety issue. “A child could be online for five minutes and experience harm,” says Savage. “We really push this conversation and thought process among parents of ‘screen time versus screen usage’.” As children move on to secondary school, much of their homework is online and managed through apps, as is communicating with friends. “So actually, when you’re talking about screen time, a lot of it might be things they have to be doing, rather than endlessly scrolling on a social media site, for example.”
Not all screen time is bad. Photograph: Posed by models; Pekic/Getty Images
Milovidov suggests considering five criteria if you’re worried about screen time. Are they eating well? Are they sleeping well? Are they doing well in school? Are they doing well with you – treating you, the parents and caregivers, well? And how are they interacting with friends? “If the answer to all of those things is, ‘Yeah, they’re doing pretty good,’ you really don’t have a screen issue.” You might be angry because they’re not coming when you call them to dinner and they want to play Fortnite or Roblox a little bit longer, but, she says: “I always tell parents: that’s normal. That’s like me watching Bridgerton: don’t bother me right now. Not all screen time is bad. I’ve been doing this for 15 years, telling people to look at the content of what they’re doing. If my 17-year-old is sitting there studying Spanish online, I am not going to lose my mind. But if he’s playing Call of Duty for hours on end, I’m going to be like: ‘Dude, what are you doing?’”
Be a good role model
If your child sees you on your phone constantly, they might think it’s one rule for them and another one for you, Savage points out. “If you can start to use wellbeing and screen-time-limiting tools yourself, and your child sees that, then it’s going to have an impact.” So if you can set up family rules, as opposed to child rules, then you should start to see “that the child thinks: ‘OK, this isn’t just an attack on me and my online world. This is for the good of all of us as a family.’”
Ekaterina Hertog, associate professor of AI and society at the University of Oxford, has found in her research interviews with young people that “monitoring is often very top-down. And sometimes that approach can be harmful, because it can be perceived by young people as: ‘My parents don’t trust me – I haven’t been doing anything wrong, and I explain it to them, but they don’t listen.’” This, she says, can create additional risks, “where young people try to go around those restrictions. When they get into trouble, they might be really reluctant to go to parents and tell them, ‘I went on that website and saw this really disturbing video,’ because they were not allowed.’”
“We’re creating a lot of fear,” says Milovidov. “Yes, there are risks online, but we cannot live in fear. Social media, games, messaging apps, AI, connected homes – they all come with their own set of risks. Whether it’s privacy, cyberbullying, misinformation, whatever, there are ways to limit the risk. But bans don’t always work.”
She can’t stress enough how engaging and talking is the number one priority. “You’ve got to have a relationship with them where they’re going to open up to you and let you know what happened at school. Sometimes I’m telling my boys how to be an upstander, not just a bystander.” This means that when they see bullying, or someone sends them something offensive online, they know how to intervene, “but not become a target themselves. Usually, humour is one of the best tools that a kid can have to get out.”
When they break the rules
Young people are always going to get around parental controls, says Milovidov. “It still happens in my house. They are going to test you.” It might feel like the last straw; time to remove any internet fun once and for all. Her advice is to think of it as if they were breaking real-life rules. “Whether it’s alcohol or inviting somebody over that shouldn’t be over, we don’t just lose it and ban everything for ever and ever. We ground them or there are other consequences.”
Ask them why they need to get around your rules. Photograph: Posed by model; Nazar Abbas Photography/Getty Images
It pays to ask them why they need to get around these rules. How can we adjust? Is it that you need a little bit more time to play? Is it that you feel like you’re missing out with your friends? “Ask them to help you figure out a solution. You don’t want them to keep breaking your rules, because they’re breaking your trust. It’s about helping them understand why those limits are there. And it’s not just ‘because we said so’; you’re trying to teach them to be digitally responsible and not just digitally restricted.”
When her son was younger, he wanted to be able to chat with friends while he was gaming, Milovidov says. At first, “I was like, no, no, no, no, no. And we went through each of the features together, and he’s like, ‘OK, no, I don’t need that, and I don’t need this filter.’ And he himself kind of self-censored. It was literally ticking a box of chatting with only his friends, not with everyone in the world. And I was like: ‘Oh my gosh, well, of course you can do that.’”
It’s not that parents always have to acquiesce to young people’s point of view, says Hertog, but “just even having a conversation about it, feeling heard and understood … This communication could help parents to build up their young people to make good choices when they’re adults.” It’s similar to how we try to instil healthy eating. “Many children crave junk, so parents have conversations and hopefully manage some kind of compromise diet that’s more healthy than not. But the parental control technology encourages, or makes it easier, for parents to just be cops.”
Arrange alternative activities
One of the best ways to create a healthy balance is to give children chances to experience how good it feels to be active and social in the real world. Take them on outings, offer them alternative activities. “When my boys were younger,” says Milovidov, “it was setting up play dates. Otherwise they will all want to be on devices, because it’s exciting, it’s cool stuff.”
Don’t rush to judge their content
“It feels so difficult in the beginning – I won’t say unsavoury – to let all this tech into your life,” says Milovidov. She often hears parents despair that their children want to watch YouTubers playing video games. “They get so upset and they say, my child is not even playing the damn game. He’s sitting there watching somebody else on YouTube.” She laughs and tells them: “‘You do the same thing when you’re watching the Super Bowl or Wimbledon – you are watching somebody else play.’ And they’re like: ‘Oh, wow. I didn’t think of it that way.’ If you’re watching a cooking show, you’re not cooking. You’re getting tips. You’re learning how to do something different. And that’s what they do. They are learning.”
Madeleine West has shared a glimpse of her bohemian baby shower over the weekend as she awaits the birth of baby number seven.
On Sunday, the actress-turned-activist, 45, took to Instagram to share a slew of pictures of her ‘Mother’s Blessing’ while surrounded by friends and family.
Madeleine dressed the part for the baby shower, wearing a bright green boho tie-dye dress which showed off her growing baby bump.
She accessorised the emerald green ensemble with large dangly earrings, a matching hairband and a huge smile on her face.
The former Neighbours star was simply glowing in a dewy makeup look and she left her hair in natural waves.
She captioned the sweet post: ‘Blessed…. So happy to be surrounded by my incredible tribe.
Madeleine West has shared a glimpse of her bohemian baby shower over the weekend as she awaits the birth of baby number seven
‘I’ve never experienced the magic of a Mother’s Blessing before, and it was everything I’d hoped it would be. Connection, communion, celebration of all things.’
She finished off the post with: ‘I feel like an empress, and so very beloved,’ adding, ‘Cannot wait for you all to meet my little one.’
Other pictures included loving notes written to her by her baby shower attendees and a ritual of roses, rose quarts, candles and dried flowers.
Madeleine first announced that she was pregnant with her seventh child in a heartfelt Instagram in January.
In the photo, the brunette displayed her growing baby bump in a tight-fitting grey tank top that was lifted to reveal her bare tummy.
‘WHOOPS!’ she captioned her post. ‘Thought it was #perimenopause. I thought WRONG!’
‘It’s not too much Christmas pudding either. And I couldn’t be happier.
‘Not too sure about the title “Geriatric mum” but here we are, and I’m winding back a little to grow this little surprise package I’ve dubbed. (Baby number 7, couldn’t help myself).
Madeleine first announced that she was pregnant with her seventh child in a heartfelt Instagram in January
Madeleine already shares six children with her ex-partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, 49
‘I don’t have much more to say right now, but I’ve noticed I don’t hear much about older parents. l know you must be out there. Just seems we are invisible.’
The actress sought advice from her followers as she prepares for her seventh journey into motherhood.
‘So if you’re expecting later than expected, and tackling early in your 40s or 50s, I’d LOVE hear your stories,’ she added.
‘I’d love any tips you care to share. Like how the heck do you get all the #baby paraphernalia together again after you’ve given it all away????
‘There’s a terrifying new world of contraptions out there and I don’t know where to start!! HELP!!!’
Madeleine already shares six children with her ex-partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, 49.
The actress and her ex Shannon split after 13 years together in 2018, with Madeleine later stating the separation process ‘turned love toxic’.
Two years after their breakup, she left Melbourne and moved to the Byron Bay area to be near their six children, buying her own $4.6million property overlooking Tallow Beach.
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Inside pregnant Madeleine West’s bohemian baby shower and ‘Mother’s Blessing’ as she awaits the birth of her seventh child
