A new poll finds that many kids still do not appreciate the dangers of the Internet, with many saying they would feel safe arranging a visit with a person they have only met online.
The study conducted by Microsoft Canada and Ipsos Reid found that 25 per cent of children aged 10 to 14 would feel safe getting together with a person they have talked to for a long time only online.
"Unfortunately, those kids thought that if they had ongoing discussions with people, they would be able to judge for themselves if they could go and meet them safely. They thought they could make those decisions," online safety expert and former police officer, Paul Gillespie tells Canada AM.
The study also found that 70 per cent of children believe the information they put online and send to friends is private.
What's more, 37 per cent of girls and 22 per cent of boys have emailed their picture to someone.
"They all believe it's private communications. They don't realize that somebody can be capturing or recording the picture and sending it out again," says Gillespie.
"The study overall showed that I don't think kids appreciate the Internet and the fact that what goes on out there is not private."
Gillespie, who is now the vice chair of the Kids' Internet Safety Alliance, is on an Internet safety tour sponsored by Microsoft Canada, called "Take Back the Net." The tour starts in Calgary on Feb. 7 and includes stops in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa in March and April.
Gillespie says many parents are getting the message and are starting to put the computer in the family room or another common area instead of allowing kids to surf the Web behind closed doors.
But he notes that parents' responsibilities don't end there. The study found that 85 per cent of children have access to the Internet outside the home and 15 per cent of them are able to access websites outside the home that their parents do not let them visit at home.
"This jumped off the page at me," Gillespie says.
"It really invites us to open discussions with kids and work as a team to build rules. You can't turn [computers] off. They use it at a friend's or at school."
"We need [parent] to work with the kids. Let's talk about and set expectations, set the rules and work together. You can't any longer tell them they're not using the computer. It's not going to happen."
The study also found:
- 6 per cent of children aged 10 to 14 spend more than 10 hours a week online
- 11 per cent of children have been asked by a stranger for personal information such as their last name, home address or phone number
- 20 per cent have their own personal website
- 33 per cent have seen pornography
- 26 per cent have seen hateful messages
Gillespie says that beyond having parents talk with their kids more often about Web safety, he'd also like to see the topic built into school curriculum, just as there is instruction on drug and alcohol safety.
"My honest opinion is we're starting to turn a corner. It's not all dark but we need to keep up with the technology and work with the kids."
