You Tube should face ‘happy slapping’ charges

Metro.co.uk (2nd March 2008) published an article on the harsh consequences of violent videos uploaded onto YouTube.

Internet firms that allow videos of so-called “happy slappings” to be shown on the internet should face prosecution for helping criminals, children’s charities said today.

A 15-year-old girl was found guilty this month of aiding and abetting manslaughter for using a mobile phone to film a man being kicked and punched to death – the first conviction of its kind.

Stephen Carrick – Davies, the head of Childnet International said: “Social networking sites bring the very real danger that young people may readily share personal information or images that could put them at risk both emotionally and physically,” he told MPs.

“Furthermore, there has been an increase in online ‘peer abuse’ and in the UK a reported 22% of children claim to have been the target.”

One university admissions tutor had admitted looking up applications to gauge their suitability and there was anecdotal evidence of employers doing the same, he said.

To read the full article please visit the Metro Online

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