Lisa Nandy threatens to crackdown on streaming giants if they fail to promote more wholesome content to children
The Culture Secretary yesterday threatened to crackdown on streaming giants if they fail to promote more wholesome content to children.
Lisa Nandy has written to chiefs behind platforms such as YouTube asking them to promote British-made 'high quality' content, rather than potentially 'damaging' material.
But she said the Government may 'step in and act' if platforms do not do it voluntarily.
It came as Baroness Floella Benjamin warned that the rise of social media and the decline of high-quality children's TV was having a 'detrimental' impact on children's wellbeing.
The former children's presenter, who fronted BBC children's TV shows Play School and Play Away, questioned where modern-day versions of shows such as Grange Hill have gone.
She told BBC Radio's 4 Today programme, which she was guest editing, that children's TV was 'in crisis' and 'in turmoil'.
The member of the Lords added: 'Children are migrating to online platforms, unregulated platforms, and watching mainly adult material which, for some, could be detrimental to their wellbeing.
'Where now is Grange Hill, where now is Byker Grove, where now is (The Story Of) Tracy Beaker? Where are all those shows that used to happen?'
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has written to chiefs behind platforms such as YouTube asking them to promote British-made 'high quality' content, rather than potentially 'damaging' material
Baroness Floella Benjamin (pictured at the BAFTAs) warned that the rise of social media and the decline of high-quality children's TV was having a 'detrimental' impact on children's wellbeing
Asked about the comments, Ms Nandy said she was satisfied that robust enough laws were in place to ensure social media and streaming sites remove content that could be 'harmful' to children.
But she added: 'It's often not as high quality content, as the sort that the public service broadcasters and commercial broadcasters are producing, and that's one of the concerns.'
Asked if she could introduce new regulations to force providers such as YouTube to 'foreground' — or make more prominent — British-made 'quality' content for young digital surfers, she said: 'What I'm looking at is whether we could give greater prominence to high-quality content on platforms like YouTube... I've written to the video sharing platforms.'
The intention is that we would much prefer for them to work with us to make sure that children are able to see and find high-quality content much more easily.'
She said the 'starting point' was asking platforms to 'voluntarily' start promoting more wholesome content.
But pressed on whether she could force platforms to do this if they do not voluntarily, she said: 'Campaigners like Baroness Benjamin are calling for the Government to step in and act.
Pictured: The opening credits of the 1978 children's TV show Grange Hill which ran for 31 seasons
Dani Harmer starred as Tracy Beaker in the 2002 CBBC children's TV show The Story of Tracy Beaker
'It's certainly something we will consider doing if we can't get a voluntary agreement.'
She did not give any more detail on what ministers might do.
But a Downing Street spokesman later said: 'She wants to have that conversation with social media companies to ensure that children are being directed increasingly to content that they'll benefit from, rather than damaging content.
'But those conversations need to happen first and then we'll consider what, if any, action the Government would need to take.'
According to a study by watchdog Ofcom, YouTube was the most used online platform among three to 17-year-olds (88 per cent), followed by WhatsApp (55 per cent), TikTok (53 per cent), Snapchat (46 per cent), Instagram (41 per cent) and Facebook (34 per cent).
Meanwhile, viewing of broadcast TV live among children via a TV set has gradually been declining.
Ms Nandy did not specify what content she was talking about.
Young Ant and Dec pictured in the children's TV show Byker Grove which ran for five series
But it is likely that she meant that platforms should better promote British programmes such as Newsround rather than directing young people towards online influencers considered to be toxic, such as Andrew Tate.
A study by the University College London and the University of Kent in February, called Safer Scrolling, found that toxic or hateful material is being 'pushed' towards young people rather than factual or impartial programming.
Ms Nandy also said that her nine-year-old has an iPad with filters installed designed to block certain content, but that it was constant 'challenge' monitoring what he's consuming.
She warned that young people are less likely to see programmes which are educational or provide 'emotional and mental wellbeing' development via streaming platforms.
She added: 'There's something great about YouTube, it's democratising, you've got these people who start their careers from their bedrooms.
'But there's a balance to be struck to make sure children can find that really good quality content.'
