Bereaved Parents Demand Stronger Online Protections for Children

A group of British parents who lost children to online harms joined U.S. and Canadian families in protesting outside Meta’s New York offices, demanding stricter social media safeguards, BBC reported. The demonstration coincided with new UK regulations requiring websites to block harmful content for minors and implement rigorous age checks starting July.

The parents allege platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplify dangerous challenges, contributing to teen deaths. One family cited a wrongful death lawsuit accusing TikTok of promoting risky content to boost engagement. While platforms claim to remove harmful material and offer teen safety features, parents argue enforcement is inadequate.

Campaigners seek legislative changes, including parental access to deceased children’s accounts and age restrictions to delay exposure to adult content. One mother warned, “You don’t know what your children are viewing,” urging proactive conversations about online risks.

The protest highlights growing pressure on tech firms amid rising global scrutiny over child safety online.