Summary

Live Reporting

  1. Analysis

    Expert advice - Make sure devices are not 'hidden away in bedrooms'

    Matt Mustafic smiles at the camera. He wears a dark red shirt and square glasses, and has dark hair and stubble.Matt Mustafic

    Matt Mustafic, the schools online safety advisor at Somerset Council, spoke to BBC Radio Somerset this morning.

    As part of a discussion on online gaming for children, Mr Mustafic said "settings on devices only go so far and if children really want to they can find a way around them.

    "Parental controls are useful, but supervision and developing an ongoing dialogue with your children is much more effective."

    When it comes to maintaining supervision, he added that the key was "making sure devices aren't hidden away in bedrooms, making sure you're showing an interest in what they're doing and delving deeper if things don't feel quite right".

  2. Social media 'shows us posts that make you feel worse'

    Lucy Smith talks with her 17-year-old son Tom about upsetting content found online

    Lucy Smith is from the Bristol-based Inclusive Change which supports parents and young people around online safety.

    She said she sees how teenagers, such as her own daughter, see things on social media that "make you feel worse about yourself" such as pro-anorexia or pro-suicide posts.

    Her 17-year-old son Tom said social media is good in many ways but there are "many rabbit holes" to fall down. His advice to parents is in the clip above.

    Social media companies we have contacted say they are taking the issue seriously and are working hard to remove harmful content

  3. New rules being introduced to help limit harmful material

    As part of our investigation into what teenagers were really seeing on social media, we got in touch with TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to find out what they were doing to combat harmful material.

    They all told us that they had additional safeguards in place for younger users, and said they were proactively monitoring for harmful content.

    As part of the government's Online Safety Act, new rules for social media, search and gaming apps have been introduced by Ofcom and will come into force on 25 July.

    These new rules are intended to prevent young people from seeing the most harmful material relating to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography.

  4. 15-year-old exposed to graphic 'true crime'

    A girl on a mobile phone with her hands hugging her kneesGetty Images

    When we set up profiles for fictional Maya, 15, from Swindon, we expected to see content related to her love of fashion hauls and "get ready with me" videos, as well as Roblox and musicians like SZA and Sabrina Carpenter.

    But after just three days of scrolling, Maya was inundated with graphic descriptions of real murder cases as well as videos about child abuse and poor mental health.

    She was also shown harrowing videos labelled "her last moment alive" and "murder caught on camera", as well as sexually suggestive pictures and clips.

    You can read our full investigation - which also looks at the feeds of five other teenagers - here.

  5. 'He had access to all my social media'

    'He isolated me from everyone'

    Looking at potential links between social media and abusive teenage relationships, we spoke to one woman - who we're calling Lucy - who was just 13 when she met her ex-boyfriend online.

    She told us how he "isolated" her from everybody she knew and used apps to track her. You can hear her tell her story in the clip above.

  6. Analysis

    The link between screen time and behaviour

    John Darvall and Dr Susie Davies in the BBC Radio Bristol studio

    This morning BBC Radio Bristol is taking calls and questions from listeners about children's online safety, which are being answered by Bristol GP Dr Susie Davies - who founded Parents Against Phone Addiction in Young Adolescents (Papaya) - and cyber expert Soban Bashir.

    Our first question came in from Weston-super-Mare based Deborah, who has two children aged 10 and 13 and has not yet given her teenage daughter a phone.

    Aside from harmful content, she wanted to know more about the link between screen time and children’s behaviour, including the effects on the brain.

    "There’s a few studies that show there’s a link between screen time and mental health," Dr Davies said. "If you are a UK teenage girl spending five hours a day [online] you have a 40% risk of clinically significant depression, so there’s a link between screen time and depression. You’re also twice as likely to feel anxious as someone with a healthier screen time habit."

    As to why, Dr Davies said comparing yourself to others on social media was linked with low mood, but also teens could "be missing out on the real world" by spending hours a day on social media.

    "We also know that time on screens is linked to poor sleep and insomnia,” she said, adding that sleep is "absolutely the foundation of good mental health".

    She remarked that she was seeing cases of teenagers needing help with phone addiction "all the time", citing the case of a recent 18-year-old patient who had been suffering from low mood and sleep difficulties after spending seven to eight hours a day on her phone, scrolling TikTok and Instagram.

    She reported feeling "less happy with her own life" and "inadequate" in comparison to those she had seen online, and had been struggling to get up for school on time.

    In cases like these, Dr Davies said she always "screens for screen time" - "there's lots of things we can't change about the world around us but something you can do is reduce your screen time", she said.

  7. Phone ban 'doesn’t necessarily help'

    Ben sits in a radio studio, in front of a microphone and controls. He wears a blue fleece and headphones, and has a serious expression.

    Debbie Beadle, chief executive of the domestic abuse survivor support charity FearFree, spoke to BBC Radio Wiltshire's Ben Prater this morning about how abusive relationships between young people can play out online.

    “Banning [phones] doesn’t necessarily help, what we need to do is make sure that we teach children and young people how to keep themselves safe, whether that’s online, with their friends, out in public, we need to give them the skills they need to recognise abuse and then how to respond to it," she said.

    Debbie, who has blonde hair and wears a colourful cardigan over a black shirt, smiles at the camera. She is outside, in front of a yellow wall with ivy growing over it.

    "What I would say to young people, parents and professionals is just look out there for your local charities and don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call them for help and advice," she added.

  8. Violent content shown to '13-year-old boy'

    A cropped image of a boy in an orange t-shirt, using a laptop.Getty Images

    One of the profiles our reporters Harriet and Andy set up was for fictional 13-year-old Kai from Trowbridge, who loves gaming - especially Fortnite, Roblox and Call of Duty. His other interests include musicians like Snoop Dog and Eminem, and he writes songs himself.

    Over the course of the week-long experiment 'Kai' was shown graphic and aggressive clips from video games, including close-up shots of stabbings with blood spurting out of victims.

    As well as other dramatised stories with shocking subjects 'Kai' was also shown a video of how to steal a metal statue from the front of an expensive car.

    Social media companies we have contacted say they are taking the issue seriously and are working hard to remove harmful content

  9. 'They see things they didn't search for'

    Amanda Parr
    BBC Bristol

    Amanda sitting on a picnic bench with teenagers to her left.

    Earlier today we heard from a group of teenagers from King's Oak Academy in Kingswood. Here, our reporter Amanda Parr reflects on her conversations with them.

    As a mum to teenagers, this business of phones and what my two might be exposed to, does keep me up at night. Their devices have opened up worlds no amount of parent policing and family conversations will ever fully demystify. But if they’re able to navigate the challenges with the same kind of awareness and maturity these Kings Oak Academy students displayed in our recent chat, I’ll take heart.

    Yes they tell me, they’ve seen things online they didn’t search for and didn’t want to see.

    They know more’s being done to address harmful content and interestingly they welcome tighter age restrictions. But they want parents generally to step up, keep a closer eye and be more aware of where dangers may be lurking. Learning the perils at home, they say, will make young people better equipped to take personal responsibility for their own online behaviour, and take action when something’s not right.

    I’m struck by their self-awareness. They know endless scrolling doesn’t serve them. But they’re also clear about the benefits of social media. Connectivity. Tik Toks that teach you things! Places to share music and ideas, or to simply say good morning to a friend. In many ways, a force for good.

    But not always. Space must be made for the online safety conversation to continue. And if that conversation is to make inroads, it needs to include rational young voices like these.

  10. What the Online Safety Act is - and how to keep children safe online

    A child on her phone with a dog asleep next to herGetty Images

    As part of implementing the Online Safety Act, the regulator has finalised a series of child safety rules which will come into force for social media, search and gaming apps and websites on 25 July.

    Ofcom says the rules will prevent young people from encountering the most harmful content relating to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography. You can read more about it here.

  11. 'Many rabbit holes you can fall down'

    Lucy Smith in the studio with her 17 year old son Tom.

    Earlier this morning BBC Radio Bristol's Joe Sims spoke with Lucy Smith, who runs Bristol-based organisation Inclusive Change which supports parents and young people with online safety, and her 17-year-old son Tom.

    Asked about what parents could do to help their children, Ms Smith said families should prioritise "being able to have conversations offline".

    These chats, she said, should be "less about ‘oh that’s bad’, or ‘oh that’s awful you’re not allowed to look at it’ but more conversations like 'why is that OK? What’s wrong with that?'

    "Let’s have that discussion and actually talk about these things in a wider context."

    Speaking about social media more generally, her son Tom said it was "great in many ways" but added that "there are many detrimental side effects to it".

    "It’s great to be in the loop and be able to communicate but I think it’s also bad for your mental health and there are many rabbit holes you can fall down," he said.

  12. Where can I go for support?

    A stock image of two women holding hands as they talk.Getty Images

    Our coverage today covers some upsetting themes, with conversations across our programmes looking at abuse, violence, racism and misogyny.

    Many of the experts we've spoken to have been very clear about one thing - support is available and the online space can be a source of really useful information and resources if it is needed.

    The BBC has its own resource - Action Line - which provides a huge amount of information about where to look for help and may be a good place to start if you have been affected by any of the issues raised today.

    You can find the Action Line website by clicking here.

  13. Racist and violent content seen by pupils

    Mel sits in a radio studio, and is shown speaking into a microphone with headphones on. There is another studio visible behind her, and two television screens.

    A group of teenagers at Bridgwater College Academy, speaking with BBC Radio Somerset's Mel Everett earlier this week, said they had been exposed to racist and violent content on social media.

    The school has been giving students lessons on how to stay safe online and the group said they all felt safe online and knew how to report inappropriate content when needed.

    One of the students said that some of the content she was exposed to “was upsetting to see” and she had felt like she couldn’t ask anyone about it and had to keep it to herself.

    She says the personal development lessons put on by her school gives the students the option to “talk about anything” they have seen online in a “free and open” space where they can “say what you think”.

  14. Teen shown 'anger level monitor'

    When our reporters set up YouTube and TikTok accounts for fictional 'Harry', 15, from Taunton, as part of our investigation, they were expecting to see content that aligned with his interests - football and gaming.

    But while the videos 'Harry' saw over the course of the week-long experiment were among the least concerning we identified, some content came out of the blue.

    This included an "anger level monitor" where the user was prompted to do a test to see how angry they were, as well as a knife review comparing blades of differing prices based on how they cut an orange.

    This is the response we've had from various social media companies about our investigation.

    A boy in a blue t-shirt hold scrolls through a phone with both hands. His head is not visible in the picture and he is leaning on a table.Getty Images
  15. Analysis

    Expert Advice: 'Approach their experiences in a non-judgemental way'

    BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter Jon Smith sits in the studio with John De Gruyther. They are facing each other, and there are lots of screens and boards with controls on them.

    Earlier this morning BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter Jon Smith interviewed John De Gruyther from Victims Support in Gloucestershire, which runs a programme called STREET to help young people who are experiencing domestic abuse.

    They were speaking following an investigation we published this morning into how young people are experiencing domestic abuse via social media.

    Mr De Gruyther told the BBC that parents worried about what their children may be seeing online that "having a conversation" with their child was "a really good first step".

    "As a parent try to be open minded and don’t be scared to ask them a question," he said. "Try to approach their experiences in a non-judgemental way, which can be really difficult, but ask the question ‘how are you doing?’ and reassuring your child that there’s support out there."

    From a practical perspective, he added, parents could also visit the Victim Support website for information and support.

  16. Resources for younger children

    A young boy with blonde hair stares at an iPad screen. He is lying on his stomach, wearing a long-sleeved grey top, and has a grey duvet pulled over his head. His face is illuminated by the white light of the screen, and he has one thumb near his mouth.Getty Images

    Much of the discussion around online safety focuses on teenagers, but that doesn't mean younger children are not also at risk.

    From self-image and identity to privacy and security, there is a huge range of resources aimed at primary school children available on BBC Bitesize here.

  17. 'I thought the abuse was normal'

    A phone keyboard with thumbs tapping on the keyboard

    As part of our coverage, BBC West investigations reporter Francesca Osborne has looked into how teenagers can be exposed to abusive and controlling relationships through social media.

    We'll be sharing some of what Francesca uncovered here on the live page, but you can read the full story here first.

  18. From leopard print to adult content

    A young women with long blonde hair sits cross-legged holding a phone. The phone has a charm strap hanging from it, and the girl wears a pink sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms.Getty Images

    Despite our fictional 'Aisha' from Keynsham, created as part of our investigation, being just 13 years old, she was quickly exposed to adult content on Instagram.

    An innocent search for "leopard print", alongside her other interests including fashion and beauty, football, Roblox and the musicians Sabrina Carpenter and Frank Ocean, on Instagram immediately led to pictures of scantily-clad women in suggestive poses which was clearly meant for an adult audience.

    Despite never searching for this term again, she was then repeatedly suggested similar content on the app's For You page. While not explicit, adult content was clearly signposted just a few clicks away.

  19. What have the social media companies said?

    A woman with long red hair holds a blue smartphone.Getty Images

    In our investigation into what teens are seeing on social media, we specifically focused on the most popular platforms for this age group: TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

    Our reporters Harriet and Andy approached them for comment - here's what each of them said:

    TikTok

    • A spokesperson for the company said its teen accounts "start with the strongest safety and privacy settings by default"
    • They also said 98% of harmful content was removed before it was reported, and there were limits set on age-inappropriate material
    • Parents can also use a "family pairing tool" to monitor screen time and filter content, they added

    Instagram

    • Meta, the parent company of Instagram, did not comment specifically but said it had specific teen accounts offering an "age-appropriate experience" for 13 to 15-year-olds
    • The company is also bringing Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger later this month and adding more features

    YouTube

    • A spokesperson told us "we take our responsibility to younger viewers very seriously", adding that it had recently expanded protections for teens "including new safeguards on content recommendations"
    • While they said research on its systems was "welcome", they added "it's difficult to draw broad conclusions based on these test accounts, which may not be consistent with the behaviour of real people"

  20. Analysis

    Trends can 'very easily escalate'

    A woman wearing an orange top with blonde hair sitting infront of a blurry, glassy background

    As part of our coverage reporter Amanda Parr visited King's Oak Academy in Kingswood to speak with staff and students alike about their relationship with social media.

    Katherine Ogden, senior principal at the school, said phone use in schools wasn't as much of a concern as what pupils were accessing out of hours.

    "We've got really clear rules and systems in place [in school], she said. "It's more about what happens outside of school. What they might see online, what things might happen in their social groups, things being said on Snapchat or TikTok overnight.

    "As a result their might be a friendship fallout, then when they get into school we need to manage that."

    When it came to TikTok, she added, viral trends can "very easily escalate into quite significant incidents in schools", with staff "very alert" to the risks.