The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Online bullying greater concern than grooming
Poll: Adults reveal fears of children using internet
Parents and grandparents are more likely to be concerned about children being exposed to trolling or bad language online than grooming, according to a poll.
It also suggests that adults’ biggest fear about youngsters using the internet is bullying.
The poll, by Mumsnet and Gransnet websites, also suggests many have not talked specifically with their children about staying safe on social media or while using webcams and livestreaming.
Overall, nearly eight in 10 (78%) of the 1,000 parents and grandparents polled said they were concerned about their child being exposed to sexual imagery or pornography, making this the most common worry.
Three in four (76%) said they were concerned about bullying and the same proportion were worried about youngsters being exposed to unpleasant or aggressive people, such as trolls or bad language.
This was a higher percentage than said they were worried about youngsters being exposed to violent imagery (74%) and grooming (69%).
Asked to give their biggest worry, the most common answer was bullying (19%) followed by grooming (18%).
The survey, carried out in connection with the Internet Watch Foundation, also found that while a third (34%) of those polled have talked specifically with their children about using webcams and livestreaming, 64% say they have not specifically discussed this use.
Just over half (53%) say they have not spoken specifically about staying safe on social media networks while 46% have done so.
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts said it showed “parents need more information about the risks of livestreaming and guidance on how to address the issue with their children.”
“Our survey shows that carers worry about almost every aspect of online activity, which perhaps inhibits them from identifying and dealing confidently with the most serious threats,” she added.
“Carers worry about almost every aspect of online activity”