Plea for action to stop posts of teen violence vids that add to trauma inflicted on the victims

SOCIAL media giants must crack down on violent footage being posted online in the wake of the Daily Record’s Our Kids… Our Future campaign, experts and MSPs demanded last night. 

- RUTH SUTER

Children’s charities and parents have warned of a trend for posting horrific videos showing attacks on young people across Scotland.

They say the attacks are being fuelled by a desire for online clicks among teenagers desperate for attention on social media.

Now plat forms such as Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp have been urged to do more to remove harmful content posted on their sites showing sickening violence between young people.

The Record has reported on a series of attacks which were filmed and uploaded to social media, with an investigation in December revealing the trend is being fed by a desire among youths to build an online social status, with each post receiving hundreds of likes and shares.

Experts say viral clips can have a devastating impact on victims, who have already suffered enough, and have called on firms to take urgent action.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) says platforms are failing young people.

The charity has called for the passing of the Online Safety Bill, which is making its way through the House of Commons.

Joanne Smith, NSPCC Scotland policy manager, said: “Platforms have not prioritised their duty of care to young users and have failed to invest in proactively identifying harmful content, preventing it

CAMPAIGN Yesterday's front page from being shared with children and removing it as quickly as possible.