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05/02/2019
Survey Reveals That Almost 40% Of Children Talk To Strangers Online
New data has revealed that 40% of children aged between eight and 10 are regularly engaging with strangers online.
The worrying statistic was released by CyberSafeIreland on Safer Internet Day, Tuesday 05 February.
79% of children own a smart phone or tablet with internet access, while almost one third of them speak to strangers everyday or at least once a week.
Many are playing video games aimed at over-18's which contain violent or sexually inappropriate content.
The research, which surveyed over 1,200 children, also found that more than a third of them rarely or never speak to their parents about online safety.
CyberSafeIreland's CEO, Alex Cooney, said: "Our survey highlights that children are actively engaged in the online world from a young age.
"The vast majority of eight-year-olds have their own smart device, almost half are using social media, and one in five have appeared in a YouTube video.
"This is why we have launched a dedicated session this school year and it is also why this Safer Internet Day, we have focused on developing a range of resources for parents of younger children, to help guide their decision-making around key issues like when to get that first device for their child".
CyberSafeIreland is raising awareness of the importance for parents to engage in their children's online life to both protect them from risk and empower them to use the internet in a safe and responsible manner.
More information on the Safer Internet Day campaign can be found here.
(JG/CM)
The worrying statistic was released by CyberSafeIreland on Safer Internet Day, Tuesday 05 February.
79% of children own a smart phone or tablet with internet access, while almost one third of them speak to strangers everyday or at least once a week.
Many are playing video games aimed at over-18's which contain violent or sexually inappropriate content.
The research, which surveyed over 1,200 children, also found that more than a third of them rarely or never speak to their parents about online safety.
CyberSafeIreland's CEO, Alex Cooney, said: "Our survey highlights that children are actively engaged in the online world from a young age.
"The vast majority of eight-year-olds have their own smart device, almost half are using social media, and one in five have appeared in a YouTube video.
"This is why we have launched a dedicated session this school year and it is also why this Safer Internet Day, we have focused on developing a range of resources for parents of younger children, to help guide their decision-making around key issues like when to get that first device for their child".
CyberSafeIreland is raising awareness of the importance for parents to engage in their children's online life to both protect them from risk and empower them to use the internet in a safe and responsible manner.
More information on the Safer Internet Day campaign can be found here.
(JG/CM)
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