NSPCC urges fines for online firms

Social media sites should face fines if they fail to protect children and young people from adult and harmful content, the head of the NSPCC has said.

Peter Wanless called on the next government to place sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Askfm under “robust scrutiny” from a new watchdog “with bite” to ensure they shield children from pornography, violent content, child abusers and online bullying.

Just as films and television are regulated, so too should the sites where many children spend hours browsing and communicating with others, said Mr Wanless, the charity’s chief executive.

He issued the demands after a survey by the NSPCC found four in five youngsters felt social media companies needed to do more to protect them while using their services.

On Thursday MPs passed the Digital Economy Bill, which includes a code of conduct for social media giants to tackle illicit material.

The Government is reportedly considering fining companies who do not comply with the code.