Web firms to offer new customers site blocking

Customers signing up with four of Britain’s biggest internet companies – BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media – will be offered an “active choice” over whether they want to impose parental controls on web access in their home.

The move was one of several measures announced yesterday to tackle the problem of sexualisation of childhood, also including a new website that parents can use to report concerns and seek advice.

The ParentPort website will allow parents to raise complaints about internet content, TV programmes, adverts, videos, computer games and sexualised products such as clothes being marketed to children and also provide advice about contacting the regulators responsible for media and marketing.

Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday also hosted a Downing Street summit bringing together representatives of regulators, industry and parents to assess progress on the recommendations of an independent review by Mother’s Union chief executive Reg Bailey of the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood.

Mr Bailey’s report, published in June, warned that modern life was putting children under pressure both to consume goods and services and to take part in a sexualised life before they are ready.