Meta launches a program to ensure the online safety of children

Meta collaborates with Childhelp to create and distribute free educational videos for teenagers and their parents. The program aims to teach school students how to recognize forms of online exploitation, such as sex-related blackmail and grooming.

According to Meta, the curriculum includes lessons, interactive classroom activities, and instructional videos that help children safely navigate both the online and offline world and recognize danger. The free educational program consists of almost 90 minutes of classes.

The program developed in collaboration with child safety experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Department of Homeland Security, Thorn, a nonprofit organization, Purdue University, and the Crimes Against Children Research Center.

Meta has previously made efforts to ensure the safety of teenagers online. For example, to prevent potentially fraudulent accounts from interacting with teenagers on Instagram, Meta alerts teenagers if they are communicating with someone located in another country. The company has also restricted accounts for teenagers and automatically blurs nude images sent to teens.

This education program is fully funded by Meta and is available for free to any school, parent, or organization.