In March 2015, the Periscope app was launched, marking the beginning of live streaming on social media. Quickly acquired by Twitter, Periscope allows Twitter users to broadcast live videos taken anywhere in the world, allowing other users to view them for 24 hours after the recording ends. This was followed by the successful launch of Snapchat. Other social networks quickly developed their own live streaming features: Facebook Live Video and audio, Instagram stories, etc. While the feature is popular with internet users due to its fun and social aspects on the one hand, and its informative value in certain cases on the other, the e-Enfance Association wishes to warn parents about the potential dangers of live streaming.
Bidding war for attention
Dangerous experiments, suicide, sexual relations, humiliation, glorification of terrorism, indoctrination... these are just some of the practices broadcast live that have been making headlines since 2016. The latest video: «Teenager sets fire to his bedroom live on camera». The race for views is a driving force that leads internet users, particularly teenagers, to go to ever greater lengths to create a buzz. e-Enfance raises awareness among children and teenagers during its interventions so that they understand the danger of carrying out dangerous challenges or using live social media to humiliate or harass their peers. The Association also encourages parents to talk to their children about this use, both in terms of sharing their own content and participating in other «live» streams through interactions (likes, comments, shares, etc.).
Danger of sexual predators
Live streaming also provides new opportunities for sexual predators. Live assaults, distribution of paedophile content... e-Enfance stresses the importance of reporting such content as quickly as possible via the dedicated buttons on social networks and/or to the competent police services. The Association also recommends parents to control the dissemination of content to their children through these new means of dissemination.
Report dangerous live content
Every social network has a reporting system. Facebook, in particular, has committed to improving the responsiveness of its teams in cases of abuse and danger. e-Enfance invites you to consult again. his advice on the use of social media.
