The Byron Review

The Byron Review was published in March 2008 - click here for full details. It's author, Dr Tanya Byron was asked to look at the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games.

It is an extremely comprehensive independent review of the evidence relating to this type of material.

Her conclusions are in the executive summary and prompted a cross departmental government action plan.

To summarise the summary:

• A national strategy for child internet safety is proposed, involving better self regulation and better provision of information and education for children and families.
• Video games are to have a better classification system.
• Young people need to be empowered to keep themselves safe, a top-down approach is not possible. There is an analogy with a public swimming pool - there are gates, signs, lifeguards and safety apparatus - but we also teach children how to swim.