|
Broadband Checker
Before
ordering broadband, we invite you to check your telephone number for
broadband availability and the
best broadband deals for your
area:
15th July 2005:
Internet Watch
Foundation
Internet poses greater danger to kids during
summertime
A survey¹ of British children and their parents
carried out for leading electrical retailer, Comet, has revealed that internet
usage amongst children dramatically increases over the summer holidays, and
with it the risk of exposure to unsuitable material and inappropriate adults.
John Carr, Internet Advisor and expert on fighting child abuse
online, comments: “I welcome the timely findings of this study. The
long summer holidays are exactly the time of year when parents need to be extra
vigilant about their child’s online activities. Parents are worried about
their children’s safety when they play outside or are away from home when,
in actual fact, these survey results show children can be equally at risk when
playing indoors as they can outdoors.”
In response to the survey
findings, Comet is now offering a one year subscription to CyberPatrol, the
market-leading parental control software, free with every purchase of a
computer to help safeguard against the many threats children face online.
- 64% of children surveyed will use the
internet unsupervised during the school holidays
- 48% of children intend to use the internet
more in the holidays than during term time
- 59% of children will use chatrooms or Instant
Messenger to chat online during the holidays
- 36% of children have made new friends online,
46% of these children would agree to meet up with them over the summer
- 4% would do so without their parents’
knowledge
Heavy
usage
The Comet survey reveals access to the internet is now
virtually universal – only 1% of parents surveyed said their child will
not use the internet during the holidays.
Almost half of the children
surveyed, 45%, already use the internet on average between 1 – 9 hours per
week, 14% use the internet on average between 9 – 20 hours a week during
term time. However, almost half of the children surveyed, 48%, said they will
spend more time on the net in the holidays than during term time - of those
children, 58% said they would use the internet ‘a lot more’ over the
summer.
PC not TV
‘Using the computer’ (16%) was
the second most popular summer activity given by children, second only to
‘going out with friends’ (39%). Using the computer was preferred to
watching TV, playing sports or playing outside. In terms of what children like
to do on their computers, 73% of these children like to browse the net for fun,
62% use their PC to send and receive emails whilst 59% use chatrooms and
Instant Messenger.
Lack of supervision
Virtually two
thirds of children surveyed, 64%, said that they will use the internet
unsupervised during the summer holidays. These findings are worrying because a
government study of 1,511 children and young people aged 9 - 19 published
earlier this year² showed that almost half of children, 46%, have divulged
personal information online thus potentially putting themselves at risk. The
government study confirmed that 69% of 9 – 17 year olds resent parents
restricting or monitoring their internet use and that 63% of 12 – 19 year
olds have hidden their online activities from their parents.
Online
friends
The Comet survey revealed that 36% of children have made new
friends online. Of those children, 86% said they will chat to their new friends
online over the summer and 46% confirmed they would agree to meet these new
friends in person if asked. Worryingly, 4% of these children said they would
meet their new online friends without their parents’
knowledge.
Peter Robbins, CEO from the Internet Watch Foundation
(IWF) adds: "Many young people do not apply reasoned thinking skills to
online content. Research has shown that while awareness of risks is higher
among parents, there still remains a lot of confusion about what to do about
the risks. Parents need more practical advice and guidance in getting the most
out of the internet and this initiative by Comet is a positive step to enabling
parents and carers to protect their children online."
Comet’s
commitment to internet safety - free safety software with every
PC
For several years, Comet has been the only retailer to pre-load
its own-brand computers with CyberPatrol, the market-leading parental control
software. CyberPatrol is the most comprehensive parental control software
available and is relied upon and trusted by parents and schools worldwide to
protect children online. Now Comet is extending its offer to give a FREE one
year subscription – worth £25.79 - with every PC bought in order to
help parents keep their children safe when using the internet.³
In
addition, Comet will be distributing free leaflets in every store containing
guidance on internet safety throughout the summer holidays, this leaflet is
also available online. To find the location of your nearest Comet store or to
download advice on internet safety, log onto
www.comet.co.uk/internetsafety.
Bill Moir, Comet’s Head of
Computing, comments: “We’ve supported internet safety for many
years now but are aware that there is still a mountain to climb when it comes
to educating parents and children about how to stay safe when using the net. As
a responsible retailer, we feel it is imperative to help give parents the tools
to help keep their families safe online which is why we’re now offering
free internet safety software with every PC purchase.”
Kids -
Follow the Comet Digicode and stay safe on the net ! Comet’s
‘Digicode’ is a simple reminder for children to help keep them
safe:
D on’t give out personal details
I f someone
asks your name, always get the OK from your parents/carer
G uard
your passwords, keep them secret
I t’s important to tell your
parents/carers anything that worries you
C heck with a trusted
grown-up before entering chatrooms
O nline friends are fab but take
a grown-up along if you’re meeting up with them
D elete emails
from anyone you don’t recognize, especially attachments
E njoy
the internet but be safe!
Notes
- Survey of 623 British children aged 10 –
16 and their parents carried out online by YouGov in May 2005 for Comet
- Survey results from a two year study of 1,500
nine to 19 year olds by the London School of Economics
- CyberPatrol 12 month free offer subject to
availability while stocks last
|
ADSL