As the coronavirus epidemic eats into the number of Facebook and Instagram employees who monitor reported posts, inappropriate posts are being ignored and left up, despite users’ protests.

With children out of school and potentially spending more time online, how can parents protect them as these apps reduce their self-policing? The best way to protect children from inappropriate content is to discuss online safety with them and let them know it’s OK to ask questions about what they see online. Nowadays it’s even more important to have those conversations because screen time is even more prevalent during this pandemic.

Facebook has relaxed content moderation
Since mid-March, Facebook and Instagram, which share the same content moderator workforce, have reduced the number of employees who examine reported content. With fewer employees dedicated to investigating posts, many reported posts have been left unchecked.

“When people report content to us, we are now ​letting them know that we will prioritize those instances that have the greatest potential ​to harm our community so we can keep our reviewers safe by having them stay home,” a Facebook company spokesperson said. “With fewer reviewers available, we will increase the use of AI to proactively remove content that violates our Community Standards.”

Children exposed to concerning content online
Since switching to remote work, Facebook and Instagram employees have focused on removing content related to child safety, terrorism, suicide and self-injury, and harmful content related to COVID-19, the company said.

A Pew Research Center study shows that 59% of U.S. teens have been bullied online, including name calling and receiving explicit images. Surveyed students pointed fingers at social media companies, and 66% said the platforms weren’t doing anything to curb bullying.

Install Software To Help Reduce These Challenges
Parents should consider installing apps and programs that limit children’s screen time and can censor content on multiple devices, especially since 95% of teenagers now have access to a smartphone.

According to a study performed by Bark Technologies, almost 90% of children and teens have either expressed or experienced violent subject matter or thought. The Bark app has analyzed more than 873.8 million messages and found that up to 84% of teens have been exposed to sexual content.

The Bark app, which works on a multitude of social platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat and even text messages, analyzes messages and feeds in search of content. Through its algorithm, it can flag to parents certain threads, like ones that discuss bullying, self-harm, drugs and alcohol, or sexual content. Bark offers both content monitoring and screen time management tools, in addition to web filtering.
For more information visit Bark online:
Https://www.bark.us

If you want to dig deeper into the perils children are facing online today or if you’re looking for a little help starting the conversation, Pam and I recommend this eye opening paperback:
Are Your Kids Naked Online?: How to protect your tech-savvy kids from online self-destruction!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732884765