BBC embraces youngest viewers with dedicated website for under-12s
The BBC is brushing off budget cutbacks to make a £34m investment over the next three years in children’s programming, include a custom website geared toward under-12s designed to help the youngest viewers minimise risks while navigating the web.
BBC embraces youngest viewers with dedicated website for under-12’s
Own It is the first tangible product of this largesse and is a dedicated effort by the broadcaster to hand children aged between nine and 12 the tools they need to maximise the opportunities presented by the web while minimising the downfalls.
Delivered in partnership with child internet safety specialists, the platform arrives with the backing of expert advisers, doctors and academics.
Outlining some of the issues tackled by the new website BBC director general Tony Hall said: “Is there a right age for children to give informed consent for their data to be used online? What responsibility should organisations have to make sure their platform is right for the age range that are really using it?
“Two-thirds of 10-year-olds in this country have a social media account – but we all know that’s not supposed to happen until they’re 13.”
Standing alongside existing children’s content from CBeebies and CBBC from 6 December Own It will cover a broad remit spanning online privacy, malware and children’s issues.