children

Metaverse app allows kids into virtual strip clubs

A researcher posing as a 13-year-old girl witnessed grooming, sexual material, racist insults and a rape threat in the virtual-reality world.

The children's charity said it was "shocked and angry" at the findings.

Head of online child safety policy Andy Burrows added the investigation had found "a toxic combination of risks".

The BBC News researcher - using an app with a minimum age rating of 13 - visited virtual-reality rooms where avatars were simulating sex. She was shown sex toys and condoms, and approached by numerous adult men.

Netflix Squid Game schools warning sent to parents

The Netflix South Korean thriller series tells the story of debt-ridden people competing for a huge cash prize in a deadly series of children's games.

Its popularity prompted Central Bedfordshire Council to email parents about "aggressive" primary pupils.

They were advised to "be vigilant", as first reported by The Guardian.

The email said: "There have been some concerning reports recently about children and young people 'playing' Squid Game whilst at school.

White Sunday with Digicel Samoa

As you enter the country, you see wide-open spaces, manicured lawns and open structure homes called Fale's. The family structure is the most important fabric in the Samoan culture. The country celebrates family bonds spread over 3 main events Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and White Sunday.

Vaccinating children crucial - top Fiji health official

It comes amid concerns raised by the Health Ministry and the public at the rate of children dying from the virus in Fiji.

So far about 10 young people have succumbed to the Delta variant, with the latest victims a six-month-old boy and an 11-year-old girl among the dead reported last weekend.

Fiji's chief medical advisor Dr Jemesa Tudravu said vaccinating children would also be a crucial factor in deciding when schools reopen

Schools have been closed since April this year.

China's Tencent introduces facial scanning to crack down on children gaming all night

In 2019, China passed official guidelines with a view to stopping minors playing too much games while also requiring gamers to register accounts with their official IDs.

Sixth Tone, a state-owned media outlet aimed at those outside the country, reported the moves come after teenagers stole money to top up their accounts and concerns were raised over the physical and mental wellbeing of young gamers.

A coronavirus-linked threat to children in India

Their mothers had contracted Covid-19 more than a month ago. The children had developed no symptoms of the disease. At the 1,000-bed Kasturba Hospital in Sevagram, the young patients, however, were found to have antibodies to Covid-19, indicating past infection.

Now they were battling a rare, inflammatory and potentially life threatening condition called multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). This condition usually develops four to six weeks after children and teenagers have recovered from Covid-19.

Website aimed at keeping kids safe online translated into Samoan

Keepitrealonline​ has had millions of views, making parents and caregivers more aware of children's safety when using the internet. 

New Zealand’s Internal Affairs Manager for the Department of Digital Safety Group, Trina Lowry said she was pleased the adverts about bullying, pornography, online grooming and inappropriate content reached so many people. 

“We’ve had over 30 million views of the advert themselves and on the websites.

"What we really want people to do is go the extra mile to get the information. 

Coronavirus: Spanish PM promises to ease confinement of children

Now Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez aims to relax the rule on 27 April so they can "get some fresh air".

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who has young children herself, this week pleaded with the government to allow children outside.

Spain has seen more than 20,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic and almost 200,000 reported cases.

In a televised briefing on Saturday evening, Mr Sánchez said Spain had left behind "the most extreme moments and contained the brutal onslaught of the pandemic".

Distraught parents taking kids with measles out of hospitals in Samoa

New Zealand Red Cross nurse Karen Page, who has been based in Apia assisting with the measles epidemic for the past two weeks, said she had heard reports of three families discharging their children in more than one location.

In some cases the families returned to hospital several days later when their children's health had seriously deteriorated, Ms Page said.

Samoan medical staff say number of children with the disease keeps rising

The death toll now stands at 32 - most of the victims are children under the age of four.

A team of 10 doctors, nurses, and support staff are helping at a district hospital on Upolu and there are also 30 New Zealand vaccination nurses helping with the mass immunisation.

The medical assistance team's leader Scott Wilson told Morning Report, the situation was incredibly serious.