Shock stats: Your 13-year-old is SEXTING (and your 12-year-old is talking to strangers)

The statistics about teens talking to strangers is simply shocking

 

Nearly half of 12-year-old's have admitted speaking to strangers on social media - do you know what your child's doing online?

 

Research into what young people get up to online has revealed a number of scary statistics. The most shocking being that 43 per cent of 12 year olds have admitted to messaging strangers. 

The NSPCC has admitted they don't know how many children and young people are affected by online grooming because children may not realise they're being abused or don't tell people because they feel ashamed. 

Knowthenet - an impartial website that helps families get the most out of the internet - discovered the shocking statistics as part of their "The Social Age" study.

A representative commented: "Kids are opening themselves and others up to potential risks, with 21 per cent posting negative comments  starting from the average age of 11 and a quarter hijacking another’s account and posting without permission.

"Furthermore, 43 per cent have messaged strangers starting from an average age of 12."

They added: "The greatest proportion of internet activity takes place when children reach 11 years; this is when they are likely to first post an image or video of themselves, post a nasty comment online and set up a fake social media profile.

 

The NSPCC has admitted they don't know how many children and young people are affected by online gro

A giant 67 per cent of teens know exactly how to hide what they're doing from their parents

 

When children reach 13 – their social maturity – they will try sexting for the first time Knowthenet representative

 

"A year later (aged 12), kids will first try Twitter and Whatsapp and message someone online they haven’t met in real life. When children reach 13 – their social maturity – they first try services like SnapChat and Ask FM and will try sexting for the first time."

Edustaff looked into the topic, undertaking a survey of young people and then creating an interactive piece on social media. 

It's called "The Parents Guide to Social Media" and is an interactive piece full of advice led content about the dangers parents need to know about spending time online as a young child/teenager. 

The survey revealed  67 per cent of teenagers claim they know exactly how to hide what they're doing from their parents. 

That paired with 81% per cent of young people who think bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person, makes for a scary online society. 

The news comes as it was revealed parents 'palm off' the duty of entertaining their children, relying on tablets to keep their kids busy these days. 

 

Are teens on the internet out of their parents' control? Edustaff have created top tips to help keep children safe on the web. 

• Ensure their phone has blocked 18+ sites: You’re able to go through your settings to specifically block certain sites that you believe could be harmful to your child. This could be anything from pornography to desktop versions of social media.
  
• Place the desktop computer in an open area: This could be the kitchen or even the front room, just to put your mind at ease.
  
• Stress that phones are just for emergencies: This is particularly for younger children as handing it over after the school day is a sure fire way to ensure you know they won’t be spending their evening on a harmful platform. 

NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com has collated a list of ways to keep your children safe on the internet, which you can read here.