CyberSafeKids has carried out this survey around online behaviour.
(Source: Flickr)95 per cent of 8 to 12-year-olds own their own smart device, while 87 per cent have their own social media/instant messaging account.
That's according to research carried out by CyberSafeKids, an Irish charity which aims to help children, parents, schools and businesses use the internet safely and responsibly.
An important message from Deputy Carroll MacNeill at the launch of our Annual Report 2021 today. Click here to read about current trends in online usage among 8-12yr olds.https://t.co/5JJ3HV9XT2 @CarrollJennifer #cybersafetyforkids #cybersafetychampions pic.twitter.com/5q2NTxxFFZ
— CyberSafeKids (@CyberSafeKidsIE) September 6, 2022
The survey also shows that more than a quarter of children had been bothered by content they had encountered online.
Derek Laffan, who is a research assistant at DCU's Anti-Bullying Centre, says parents can take action to protect their children:
"Massive amounts of kids reported that they can do whatever they want to do online or go wherever they want to go online. Even from a point of view of involving the parents, if they actually are involved in the game itself or have some form of knowledge of what the game is, they can actually prevent some of that and put that into context."
