Private online chat and divulging personal information identified as risks for kids

The Media Awareness Network is warning that many youth are putting themselves at risk online by chatting alone, divulging personal information, and arranging face-to-face meetings with Internet acquaintances. While its findings should be a "wake-up call", Jan D’Arcy, co-director of the network, says "the silver lining to this story, and there is one, is that where families have rules and limits about Internet use, young people are less vulnerable to these kinds of risks." At a news conference October 24, the Network unveiled the second half of findings from its Young Canadians in a Wired World survey conducted last March and first released this summer (CNM, July 25/01). Overall, says D’Arcy, "this data shows that parents have not fully grasped the need to street proof their children for the Internet." She says that well over half, or 56 per cent, of young Canadians visit chat rooms – 30 per cent of nine- and 10-year olds, and over 70 per cent of 15- to 17-year olds. Of those, one quarter of the nine- and 10-year-olds are visiting chat rooms with adult content, and fully six in 10 of 15- to 17-year olds do the same. Boys are more likely to do so than girls, according to the survey. Most are apparently alone while doing so, with 85 per cent of children and youth reporting they are at home but unsupervised while using the Internet. Fully 60 per cent of young people haven’t been instructed in safe chat habits. Among youth on the Internet, there is also a sizeable minority of kids who will divulge personal information, says the survey. Thirty two per cent would divulge their names, 23 per cent their addresses, 21 per cent their telephone numbers and 17 per cent their instant messaging nicknames to win a prize in a contest. Still, there is an apparent awareness by the majority who wouldn’t give out personal information about the dangers of doing so. Of those, 64 per cent say they don’t know who will use the information, 55 per cent are worried about being contacted by a stranger, 32 per cent don’t want spam, and 26 per cent have a parental injunction against doing so. Face-to-face meetings are also a concern. Of all young Internet users, 25 per cent have been asked to meet in person with someone they’ve met online. Approximately 15 per cent of survey respondents indicated that they’ve gone ahead to do so. About 100 of those characterized their meeting as a "bad experience" – an open-ended definition encompassing everything from unwanted sexual attention to not liking the person they’ve met. Significantly, parental rules against in-person meetings seem to be a factor in whether or not kids go through with such plans. Of those who have met an Internet acquaintance in person, only one-third have rules against doing so, compared to the national average of 42 per cent who say their parents haven’t barred such behaviour. Kids are also no strangers to accidentally viewing pornographic material and being spammed with adult content. According to the survey, over half of kids who use the Internet have come across pornographic content. Boys in secondary school, those who do not have a parent who is a college or university grad, and those who most often use the Internet at home are the most likely to report having accidentally viewed pornographic material and being spammed with adult content. In 59 per cent of cases, the viewing occurred while searching for something else or mistyping an address. Only four per cent report viewing pornographic material on purpose. Note: a CNM Update identified the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP) as a Media Awareness Network "partner". While CAIP president Jay Thomson was present at the survey’s unveiling, there is no formal relationship between the two organizations.

Private online chat and divulging personal information identified as risks for kids

News | 11/02/2001 5:00 am EST

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