As Tech Shock returns for its 5th season, Vicki and Geraldine are joined this week by Lynn Perry, CEO of Barnardos and expert on child safety.

The group begin by discussing organisations which support children and families, and the need for greater investment in these services. Lynn suggests that when we fail to intervene early – thanks to a lack of funding and resources – all we really do is make the need for future support more likely, and more pressing.

Focus turns to the role of digital in children’s lives. Whilst the online world facilitates socialising, learning, play, and (ultimately) choice, it brings with it a unique and continually evolving set of challenges.

This all relates to young people’s mental health – currently something of a crisis. With, as Lynn states, over 1 million under 18s accessing mental health services, how can we offset the negative impact of social media and cyberbullying? Is there a way of limiting these harms, of protecting the vulnerable, without denying opportunities and experiences to others who are perhaps less at risk? 

The group agrees that conversations around the Online Safety Bill have brought problems – like those above – to the surface. But what’s needed for effective regulation in a post-bill world? How can regulatory bodies like Ofcom best capture both children’s lived experiences, and the risks which professionals identify? And, as Vicki and Geraldine ask, how personally confident is Lynn that we’ll get this right?

 

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