Safety by design needs to be a priority for the makers of artificial intelligence and other algorithms, as 69% boys aged 11-14 have already been exposed to misogyny online.
Automated content recommendation systems are pushing misogyny and other negative content at teen and tween boys, affecting their wellbeing and relationships. Although this phenomenon is widespread, it’s an issue that’s hard to see, meaning many parents will be unaware of it. So, Vodafone is raising awareness of it in a short film, The Rise of the Aggro-rithm, focusing on an ordinary boy named Olly.
Such AI ‘aggro-rithms’ are concerning, but parents are far from powerless. To help parents have conversations with their children about such content that they may encounter on the internet, Vodafone and NSPCC have released a free online safety toolkit.
Everyone can go a step further by signing Global Action Plan’s petition, asking regulators to ensure tech platforms prioritise user safety in the design of products and services that use AI.
For help with a wide variety of issues that children may encounter online, Vodafone’s Digital Parenting and Digital Parenting Pro resources can help parents and children navigate the online world safely and enjoyably.
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