"Safer Internet Day"

More than 75% of children aged 10-12 in the UK have social media accounts even if they are below the age limit.

20:59 10 February 2016

Safer Internet Day is a global event that encourages “safe and responsible” use of the Internet.

 

However, a study conducted to mark this event has found that more than three quarters of children aged 10-12 in the UK have social media accounts, even though they are below the age limit.

 

Coppa, or Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, is a US law that dates back to 1998 that aims to protect children while they are online. It mandated that online services should set 13 years as their cut-off point. However, it is easy enough for a child to lie and proof of ID is rarely sought.

 

Meanwhile, the study also found that 96per cent of children aged 13 to 18-years-old have their own social media accounts such as Whatsapp, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook.

 

Among 16 to 18 years olds, two in five had admitted to spreading gossip using social media and a quarter had used it to say something “unkind” or “rude” to someone else online.

 

Meanwhile, the Safer Internet Day also conducted its own survey and found that more than four in five 13 to 18 years old had seen “online hate” such as offensive or threatening language.