A day after the launch of our GSIMV research, the government has announced plans to block undesirable online content, including porn, after it launched an official consultation today. AdaptiveMobile's VP Handset Security, Ciaran Bradley believes that whilst the move is a step in the right direction, it ignores the increasing threats from mobile devices such as sexting, cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
"We welcome this consultation - it’s critical that parents have more control over what their children are seeing online. However, there is a very real need for mobile devices to be considered - over half of parents believe that smartphones – rather than the desktop, laptop or gaming device – are the real badlands for harmful content such as online porn, according to our Global Security Insights in Mobile report.
"17% of 8-15 year olds own a smartphone today and this activity frequently goes under the radar, compared to home desktops or laptops, which are shared between all family members. This represents a clear opportunity for mobile operators to help families by offering services and support which goes above and beyond what is required by any legislation put in place. “
"As with so many parenting challenges, a ‘one size fits all’ technology approach is unlikely to work - 68% of UK parents want controls they can adapt as their children mature, with the convenience of filtering websites from their own handset one of the ways that technology can be more successful at combatting this problem."