According to our latest annual monitoring research, Responding to Online Threats: Minors’ Perspective on Disclosing, Reporting, and Blocking in 2021, the features provided by platforms to help users block and report bad actors are simply insufficient in keeping kids safe.
At the same time, the study shows that children aren’t turning to offline support systems – like having conversations with parents and other trusted adults – even though they can play a critical role in protecting kids from harm.
In the absence of these offline support options, kids leverage the tools that platforms build in – like blocking and reporting – and have faith that they will be sufficient in defending them from online harm.
To this end, platforms are the first line of protection for their users, particularly young people.
And, while many companies are leaning into this responsibility, platforms’ systems and policies intended to protect young users are simply not keeping up with the risks they face online.
