TikTok exposes children to suicide content within three minutes of joining app

  • Research from the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that TikTok exposes children to suicide content within three minutes of them joining the platform.
  • They found TikTok was “bombarding” young people with self-harm, suicide and eating disorder content in their “For you” page.
  • After making two accounts posing as a 13-year-old in the US, UK, Australia and Canada, it found that potentially harmful content about mental health and body image was pushed every 39 seconds.
  • Content referencing suicide was pushed to one account within 2.6 minutes and content referencing eating disorders pushed within 8 minutes.
  • A “more vulnerable” account was created with the tag “loseweight” which was served three times more harmful content than the standard account, and 12 times more self-harm and suicide content.
  • For more on this research, go to the Telegraph’s website.

Manx parents urged to check for unsafe Christmas toys

  • The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have reminded parents on the Isle of Man to check the toys they give to their children at Christmas are safe.
  • The OFT said that consumers “need to be vigilant when buying cheaper versions” of toys in case they are unsafe.
  • Those buying Christmas toys have been reminded to be aware of safety standards symbols, including the lion mark, on the gifts they buy.
  • These symbols indicate whether products meet EU or UK legislation or standards.
  • Age suitability symbols are also important to be aware of, due to hazards such as small parts in toys unsuitable for younger children.
  • To read the full story, go to the BBC’s website.

Gap between poorer students and their peers ‘grows by largest amount on record’

  • The Education Policy Institute has found that poorer pupils fell behind their peers last year creating the largest attainment gap on record.
  • The gap saw a bigger increase in 2021 than any other year in the past decade.
  • They also found that the attainment gap got worse, despite GCSE grades being assessed by teachers rather than external moderators – a measure brought in to abate the disruption caused by the pandemic.
  • To find out more, go to the Independent’s website.