Parents still naive about risk of social media

CHILDREN USING social media are giving away access to their personal information, a senior detective has warned, often not knowing what they are signing up to.

DS Steve Thomas, head of crime operations at North Yorkshire Police, said age limits are set on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram for a reason. And it’s not because 13 is an estimated given age of maturity, but because in America it is illegal to sell children’s data if they are any younger.

“I don’t think people are aware,” he said. “Many people just don’t understand how the technology works. A lot of people are completely naive. They allow their children, below the permitted age, to use social media sites.

“Their data is being sold to marketing companies. Where they shop, what they like, where their home is. A lot of people are naive about the information that is given away by these devices.

“Most people think the age 12 or 13 age bracket is down to their maturity. It’s nothing to do with that. It’s so they can sell your personal details.”

North Yorkshire Police has teamed up with education authorities, going into schools to talk to the children about what they should and shouldn’t be doing. In West Yorkshire, similar schemes have been set up with a big focus on keeping children safe online.

“Parents think they don’t know how to protect their children – but they do,” said DCI Vanessa Smith, head of cyber crime for West Yorkshire Police.

“If someone knocked on the door in the real world, they wouldn’t let them go upstairs to play in their child’s bedroom. Why do we on the internet?”

West Yorkshire Police is trialling techniques to reach a younger audience, including using Facebook Live to host briefings and interviews, and has been credited with leading the way in its approach to tackling cyber crime.

“We’re doing our best to get the message out,” said DCI Smith. “A consequence will be more people wishing to report crimes.”