US Study: Young people want increased privacy

A US study by researchers at UC Berkeley and the University of Pennsylvania suggests that, contrary to popular opinion, young adults are concerned about online privacy and have similar views about social networking to those of their elders.

Facebook branded 'arrogant' and 'complacent' towards paedophile threat

A child-protection expert has branded Facebook 'arrogant' and 'complacent' despite an in increase in reports of paedophile activity on the site.  

Bebo, MySpace or Facebook used by a quarter of UK 8-12 year olds

According to a recent survey by UK regulator OFCOM, a quarter (25%) of UK internet users aged between eight and twelve years old have profiles on social networking sites Bebo, Facebook or MySpace. 

This is despite the fact that the lowest minimum age requirement on any of the sites is 13.

Are Your Children Hacking... Your Email Account?

 

In a survey of 1000 children, released by Cumbria Constabulary and reported by CNN, more than a quarter (26%) said that they had tried ‘hacking’ (breaking into another person’s account on a computer) at some point.

Predators on Facebook: Should you be worried?

 

In the wake of the shocking rape and murder of teenager Ashleigh Hall, who was ‘groomed’ by predatory paedophile Peter Chapman on Facebook, the British press have been quick to point the finger of blame at Facebook.

In an unbelievably sensationalist article on the Daily Mail website, Mark Williams-Thomas, a ‘vastly experienced’ consultant in child protection and a former police detective, paints a terrifying picture of hundreds of men waiting to groom and abuse young women online.  Mr Williams-Thomas set up a profile purporting to be a 14-year old girl and, apparently, simply waited for the indecent proposals to flood in.

Teens Not Interested in ‘Blogging’ or ‘Tweeting’, Prefer Facebook

A study published this week by US organisation Pew Internet reveals the surprising conclusion that, whilst teens spend a long time on Facebook viewing status updates and photographs, they are far less likely to write a blog or use Twitter.

‘1 in 4’ Children sent Pornography by E-Mail

According to research carried out by telephone provider TalkTalk and reported in the Telegraph today, one in four children have been sent inappropriate material, including pornography, by email.

Boys that watch porn online ‘more likely to harass girls’

According to a study by Australian researchers, boys who are exposed to pornography at a young age are more inclined to believe there is nothing wrong with harassing a girl for sex.

The study by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (which collected data from 8 countries) also suggests that boys exposed to porn are more likely to indulge in casual sex – and less likely to form successful relationships as adults.

 

US Children Spend “11 Hours a Day” on Entertainment Media

According to a new study from US organisation The Kaiser Family Foundation, reported on cnet, there has been a ‘dramatic’ rise in the amount of time 8-18 year olds spend using ‘entertainment media’ each day. 

Children Search The Internet for "YouTube, Facebook and Sex"

In recent research published by software company Norton, and discussed on the consumer website Which?, it is revealed that young people are actively searching for "sex" and "porn" online. 

The internet at home... a few facts and figures

Today we thought we'd present to you some facts and figures, which we've collected from various sources on the internet, which demonstrate the way in which children and young people use the internet and the way in which parents deal with their children's internet use. 

We don't seek to be "scaremongers". 

Here, we present the facts, so that you can make up your own mind...