UK Health Secretary Calls Out Social Media Companies

Category: Education/Family

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. underage / ˌʌn dərˈeɪdʒ / (adj) – too young or below the required age
    Example:

    Underage drinking is strictly prohibited.


  2. get away with / gɛt əˈweɪ wɪθ / (idiom) – to avoid the negative effects of an action
    Example:

    Schools are making sure that students will not get away with cheating.


  3. brief / brif / (v) – to give information or instructions to someone
    Example:

    Our teacher briefed us on the class requirements.


  4. intervene / ˌɪn tərˈvin / (v) – to be involved in something
    Example:

    The teachers decided to intervene to help improve the students’ performance.


  5. rampant / ˈræm pənt / (adj) – referring to something that spreads quickly and is hard to control
    Example:

    Social media addiction is becoming rampant among teenagers.


Article

Read the text below.

UK Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called out tech companies for ignoring the negative effects of social media on children.


Hunt sent a letter to companies like Google, Instagram, and Facebook to emphasize the importance of addressing issues like cyberbullying and excessive and underage Internet use. Although most social networking sites have an age limit of 13, children below this limit still get away with creating social media accounts.


Currently, Google and Instagram have measures to control social media use among children. Google launched the Family Link app, which lets parents regulate the online activity of children under 13. Likewise, Instagram has Tips for Parents on its Help Center. These tips brief guardians on how to navigate the app and control privacy settings.


However, Hunt remains doubtful about the effectiveness of these measures. He warns that the UK government will intervene by implementing new rules if the issues involving children are not addressed.


A survey conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health revealed that 36% of the public are seeking government-enforced laws on social media use.


Such laws may be necessary as some studies revealed that children in the United Kingdom are spending too much time on the Internet. They spend an average of 20 hours weekly online, which can make them susceptible to mental health issues related to Internet use. For instance, a research showed that self-harm has become rampant among female teenagers because they see videos about it on social media.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you agree that the government should intervene in regulating children’s social media use? Explain.
• Do you think that other online activities (e.g. gaming) should also be regulated among children? Explain.

Discussion B

• In your opinion, at what age should children be allowed to use social media? Explain.
• What can parents do to prevent their children from using social media at an early age? Discuss.