WhatsApp challenges activist group to allow 13-year-olds to join platform in UK and EU

Child safety group Smartphone Free Childhood has expressed dissatisfaction with Meta’s decision to lower the minimum age for WhatsApp users from 16 to 13 in the UK and European Union. Activists have criticized the measure, saying it runs counter to growing demand for child protection. They also emphasized that Big Tech prioritizes the profits of its shareholders over the protection of children.

Given this scenario and all the complaints, WhatsApp has justified itself in defending this change by saying that it brings age restrictions in line with those of most countries and that there are protections in place for users. However Director of Online Security Strategy from Ofcom, Mark Bunting, warned that the regulator would not hesitate to fine social media companies that do not follow its instructions. Ofcom is currently making efforts to develop codes of practice for online safety. This will give you the opportunity to require companies to demonstrate the effectiveness of their child protection measures. If they do not comply with these guidelines, Ofcom has the power to impose fines.

For its part, Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, announced a range of security features designed to protect usersespecially young people, d“Sextortion” and the abuse of intimate images. One such feature is a filter called Instagram’s Anti-Nudity in Direct Messages, which is activated by default for users under 18 and automatically blurs out images containing nudity. Additionally, users will receive a message encouraging them not to feel pressured to respond, and they will have the option to block the sender and report the chat.