New measures to stop sexualisation of children
The Prime Minister has backed measures which aim to safeguard children from being exposed to overtly sexual content.
A website called Parentport has been launched on which parents can report material they deem to be inappropriate for children. This includes media such as TV, online, film, advertising, computer games and magazines.
The launch of the website is in response to a report issued earlier this year by the President of the Mothers’ Union, Reg Bailey, in which he set out a number of recommendations to combat the sexualisation of children.
Mr Bailey said: “It is really important to have one place where parents can make their voice heard and let broadcasters or another part of the media industry know that they have overstepped the mark.
“We want to give parents the confidence that they can express their views without being made to feel as if they were prudes or the only ones to feel that way.”
There are plans to implement other recommendations from the Bailey review, including new restrictions on “overtly sexual” billboard advertising and using children to market goods to other children.
In addition to these moves it has also been announced that four of the major internet service providers (ISPs) in the UK will institute an ‘opt-in’ system for accessing internet pornography.
BT, Talk Talk, Virgin and Sky have all agreed to measures which would mean customers will have to state at the point of subscription whether they want access to adult content.
The announcement follows a campaign by Claire Perry MP and Safer Media, an organisation which seeks to protect children from the effects of harmful media.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said:
“These are encouraging developments for parents and children. For a long time parents have felt uneasy about the sexualisation of their children through the media.
“It is right that the government is showing those involved in media services that they bear some responsibility for this and need to have the interests of children at heart, not just profit making.”
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