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The Telegraph

Instagram 'kids app' could could expose children to 'addictive algorithms', leading expert warns

Instagram’s plans for a 'kids’ app could see children exposed to ‘addictive algorithms’, a senior member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned. Dr Bernadka Dubicka, chair of the college’s child and adolescent facility, described the prospect as a ‘huge concern’ and said it is ‘unfathomable’ that social media companies should be allowed to design products for young children without proper regulation. Her comments come as Instagram confirmed it is working on a ‘parent-controlled’ version of its app for under 13s. Details of the new app are scant, however Facebook, which owns Instagram, already has a ‘Kids’ version of its Messenger app, which is targeted at six to 12-year-olds. Dr Dubicka warned that any Kid’s app should not use the powerful ‘persuasive’ design techniques Instagram deploys in its current app to keep user scrolling for as long as possible. She said: "Social media companies make money by getting people hooked into the algorithm and spending more and more time on screens. That is a huge concern in terms of young children, for whom it is very easy to develop these addictive patterns. “It isn’t in social media companies’ interest to make those algorithms less persuasive and less addictive." Dr Dubicka added: "The fact is that children are still developing [means] they are much more impulsive and certain behavioural habits are hard to break if they are established early on." The move comes as the UK Government is drawing up a bill to impose a statutory Duty of Care on tech companies to better protect users, a measure The Telegraph has campaigned for since 2018. Yet, the current proposals, which could see tech giants fined billions or even banned from the UK, do not include setting an age limit on social media sites but instead making them enforce their own rules and terms. Ministers have said they will bring the bill before Parliament later this year, but charities have warned it could take until 2024 to set up the new online regulator, expected to be Ofcom. Dr Dubicka said it is important the bill moved rapidly so social media giants were not left to make key decisions affecting young child by themselves. She said: "Medics are regulated, pharmaceutical companies are regulated, tobacco companies are regulated and in the same way social media companies will need to be externally regulated. “It is unfathomable to think why that has not been the case particularly when it comes to very young children." Meanwhile, Sonia Livingstone, a former Government adviser on child online safety and professor at LSE, said children under 13 did enjoy using online forums where they can chat privately with friends, such as in some video games. However, she said this is very different to being on a social network where algorithms designed to keep them online for longer and longer decided what they saw. “We now have so much evidence of children and teenagers feeling under pressure from Instagram in terms of mental health, body image and a ‘keeping up’ kind of way,” said Prof. Livingstone. “I do think there is a desire (for children to socialise online) but I don’t think Instagram is the company to do it.” Instagram's plans have also raised concerns the app will become a target for paedophiles looking to use it to groom children. Andy Burrows, Head of Child Safety Online Policy at the NSPCC, said: “Our data shows there are consistently more grooming offences on Instagram than any other site so it is surprising they’ve decided to focus on a new platform targeted on even younger children. “Given the harm that has been caused by Instagram’s risky design choices there can be no margin for error and independent experts must be satisfied any platform for kids is demonstrably safe.” Instagram confirmed to The Telegraph it is looking at building a children's version of the social network after it was first reported by BuzzFeed. A spokesman for the company said: “Increasingly kids are asking their parents if they can join apps that help them keep up with their friends. Right now there aren’t many options for parents, so we’re working on building additional products that are suitable for kids, managed by parents. “We’re exploring bringing a parent-controlled experience to Instagram to help kids keep up with their friends, discover new hobbies and interests, and more.”

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