Children under six are being manipulated into acts of sexual abuse while parents think they are playing safely on household devices, a new report by the Internet Watch Foundation has found.
Lynn Perry MBE, Barnardo’s Chief Executive, said:
“The idea that offenders are targeting children under six, on devices that can be found in most family homes and exploiting them into perverse sexual activities is hard for parents to comprehend.
“As parents, we need to have age-appropriate conversations with children about online safety, to help understand what apps and sites they are using, and how they can best stay safe online. But the onus must be on the tech companies to get their act together and make sure their platforms are safe for children.
“Tech companies need to take action to introduce stronger safeguards and Ofcom must ensure that the Online Safety Act is implemented effectively and robustly.”