Online porn clampdown ‘still leaves kids at risk’

CHILDREN will still be at risk of viewing pornography online when new regulations come in because they exclude Twitter and other social media sites, campaigners have warned.

The Government’s age verification system – which will require those looking at porn to prove they are at least 18 – is set to come in before the end of the year.

But the rules will only apply to commercial websites which request payment – leaving children free to look at material on Twitter and other free sites.

The NSPCC said: ‘The new regulation won’t be the silver bullet in blocking all online porn. We need robust regulation and fines for social media sites if they fail to protect children from seeing porn.’

While Facebook and some other social media sites ban pornography, Twitter does not. Tumblr, a site popular with young people, also allows adult material.

One study found more than half of the users of Tumblr had seen porn on the site.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: ‘As well as introducing age verification for commercial pornographic sites, we have also been clear that social media firms must do more to protect children from harmful content.’

Tumblr defended its record on protecting children citing a ‘safe mode’ tool on its site.

Twitter also said it took keeping children from seeing adult content seriously.