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Daily News Summary
8 May 2024

Social media apps told to 'tame aggressive algorithms' to keep children safe
New £101 million funding drive to give pupils access to music education
'Far-reaching reform' needed to fix teacher recruitment crisis, educators warn

Social media apps told to 'tame aggressive algorithms' to keep children safe

 

Social media apps including TikTok and Instagram will be told to tackle "aggressive" targeting of harmful content to young people. Under new rules in the Online Safety Act, the platforms will have to install strict age checks to prevent children from seeing pornography and content that promotes self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders. Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief executive, said: “In line with new online safety laws, our proposed codes firmly place the responsibility for keeping children safer on tech firms. They will need to tame aggressive algorithms that push harmful content to children in their personalised feeds and introduce age-checks so children get an ­experience that’s right for their age." By Mark Sellman, The Times.

 
The Times

New £101 million funding drive to give pupils access to music education

 

43 music hubs are to be created around the country to help provide musical activities, equipment and teacher training to children and young people, in collaboration with organisations including the London Symphony Orchestra. The £101 million investment, which will be rolled out by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Education, is intended to ensure the government’s National Plan for Music Education is delivered. By Paul Jeeves, The Express. 

 
Daily Express

'Far-reaching reform' needed to fix teacher recruitment crisis, educators warn

 

The teacher recruitment and retention crises show that the system requires reform across the board, argue Tom Kirk and Clare Brooks of the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge. Writing in Tes, the two educators discuss recent research on recruitment targets and teachers considering leaving the profession. They conclude the article by saying "future policy must focus on systemic reform grounded in a sector-led conversation about what we want from schools, teachers and education". 

 
Tes

 

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