Nearly 30 Percent of Tweens Have Been Contacted by Strangers Online
Online and in danger. But how much are tweens keeping from their parents?
July 22, 2008 — -- A new survey about pre-teens' behavior on the Internet, released today, finds that kids are putting more information about themselves on the Web and that they are being contacted by strangers more often.
The survey, conducted by Cox Communications, along with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, focuses on "tweens" -- kids between the ages of 8 and 12, whose Internet use is exploding.
It appears that Internet safety information campaigns are working. The survey shows that more parents are making it a priority to talk to their children about their use of the Internet.
However, the study also says there's a significant drop in the number of kids who talk openly with their parents about their Internet use as they get older.
Find out more at www.safeteensonline.com.
Some key findings from the survey:
96 percent of tweens tell parents some of what they do online.
79 percent tell parents everything.
Kids tell their parents far less as they get older.
One in five tweens post information about themselves online, including pictures, the city they live in, and how old they are.
37 percent of 11- and 12-year-olds admit to posting a fake age online.
34 percent of 11- and 12-year-olds have a profile on a social networking site. Tweens with social networking profiles post more online and face greater exposure to unknown contacts and online bullying.
28 percent have been contacted by strangers online.
The results of the survey are being released today at the Internet Safety Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh and Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson.