Children at risk as they slip through net. Children as young as five are surfing the net unsupervised, raising fears they could fall prey to pedophiles.
A study also found the lives of today's tech-savvy kids are increasingly dominated by the internet and gadgets ranging from video game consoles to mobile phones at the expense of outdoor play.
The British research has parallels in Australia, with children as young as eight using the internet for an average of 33 minutes a day.
More than half of Aussie children aged between eight and 11 admit to using social networks such as Facebook and MySpace.
About 48 per cent of eight and nine-year-olds also claim to have personal information such as a photograph of themselves online.
The UK study carried out by media regulator OfCom, revealed one in five children aged 5-7 regularly used the internet alone without parental supervision and the figure was rising.
One in 10 own a mobile phone and half have a TV in their bedroom. Despite the increasing numbers of children surfing the web, a report released by the Australian Communications Media Authority in July revealed they have a high awareness of cyber safety risks and how to protect themselves online.
The report, Click and Connect - Young Australians' Use of Online Social Media, found 75 per cent of children claim they know not to reveal their address or phone number online.
The vice president of the Australian Council on Children and the Media, Elizabeth Handsley, said many parents' source of pride in their kids' computer literacy was misplaced.
"There are parents who think it's important for kids to be involved in the latest technology and show an interest in computers without the need to recognise they need to be supervised, especially young children,'' Ms Handsley said.
"If your seven-year-old girl came home with a 19-year-old boy, you wouldn't tell them to go off to her bedroom and play, would you?
"There needs to be that connection made in people's minds that you are doing the equivalent of that and possibly more, by saying to your young child 'go off into the bedroom and jump on to the computer'." / news.com.au
A study also found the lives of today's tech-savvy kids are increasingly dominated by the internet and gadgets ranging from video game consoles to mobile phones at the expense of outdoor play.
The British research has parallels in Australia, with children as young as eight using the internet for an average of 33 minutes a day.
More than half of Aussie children aged between eight and 11 admit to using social networks such as Facebook and MySpace.
About 48 per cent of eight and nine-year-olds also claim to have personal information such as a photograph of themselves online.
The UK study carried out by media regulator OfCom, revealed one in five children aged 5-7 regularly used the internet alone without parental supervision and the figure was rising.
One in 10 own a mobile phone and half have a TV in their bedroom. Despite the increasing numbers of children surfing the web, a report released by the Australian Communications Media Authority in July revealed they have a high awareness of cyber safety risks and how to protect themselves online.
The report, Click and Connect - Young Australians' Use of Online Social Media, found 75 per cent of children claim they know not to reveal their address or phone number online.
The vice president of the Australian Council on Children and the Media, Elizabeth Handsley, said many parents' source of pride in their kids' computer literacy was misplaced.
"There are parents who think it's important for kids to be involved in the latest technology and show an interest in computers without the need to recognise they need to be supervised, especially young children,'' Ms Handsley said.
"If your seven-year-old girl came home with a 19-year-old boy, you wouldn't tell them to go off to her bedroom and play, would you?
"There needs to be that connection made in people's minds that you are doing the equivalent of that and possibly more, by saying to your young child 'go off into the bedroom and jump on to the computer'." / news.com.au
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