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Kids start watching online porn as early as 6 years old –study


Here's another reason for parents to keep a close eye on what their children access online: kids could start watching online porn as early as age six, a security vendor warned.
 
But pornography is not the only danger for children who go online: Bitdefender said its study also showed young children are accessing hate sites as well.
 
"Kids start watching porn online from as early as the age of 6, and flirting on the Internet from the age of 8, according to a Bitdefender marketing study of over 19,000 parents worldwide," researcher Bianca Stanescu said in a blog post.
 
Also, Bitdefender's marketing research showed the age of children accessing instant messaging and computer games is decreasing.
 
Now, it said some 3.45 percent of children chatting with IM friends and two percent of computer game addicts are five years old.
 
Parents participating in the marketing study originate mostly from the US, France, Germany, the UK, Australia, Spain and Romania.

 
Young adults online
 
The infographic prepared by Bitdefender showed:
 
  • 1.16 percent of children start watching porn as early as age 6
  • 3.45 percent of children chat with IM friends at age 5
  • 25 percent have at least one social networking account at age 12
  • two percent of computer game addicts are five years old
  • 17 percent are social media users at age 10
  • 17 percent of those who post hateful messages online are only 14 years old.
 
When creating social network profiles, usually on Facebook, children also tend to lie about their age, the study added.
 
In the study, almost one out of four children had at least one social network account at age 12, while 17 percent were social media users at age 10.
 
“Kids nowadays are acting like young adults online – just give them an Internet-connected device and they will find a way to things parents would like to ban forever,” Bitdefender Chief Security Strategist Catalin Cosoi said.
 
“Knowing that online dangers go beyond pornography, to hacking and suicide websites may help parents protect their kids’ life on- and offline,” Cosoi added.
 
Teens prefer 'hate' sites
 
Bitdefender also said its research found many teenagers are ditching instant messaging and go to popular “hate” websites that let them post violent or racist messages.
 
"These websites also include content that discriminates on the basis of religion or sex, and some belong to terrorist organizations," Stanescu said.
 
Of those accessing hate websites:
 
  • over 17 percent are 14 years old
  • 16.52 percent are 15 years old
  • 12.05 percent are 16 years olds.
 
Top web categories that 'interest' children
 
Bitdefender also cited results of its parental control software showing what interests children, and what their parents block:
 
  • Pornography, 11.35 percent
  • Online Shops, 10.49 percent
  • File Sharing, 9.71 percent
  • Social Networks, 8.84 percent
  • News, 7.13 percent
  • Gambling: 5.91 percent
  • Online Dating, 5.77 percent
  • Business, up to 4.58 percent
  • Games up to 3.14 percent
  • Hate, 2.91 percent
  • Other, up to 30.17 percent
 
Instant messaging
 
Meanwhile, Bitdefender said children are using instant messaging at a young age. The top ages of children on IM channels include:
 
  • 22.79 percent, age 9
  • 20.30 percent, age 8
  • 11.60 percent, age 7
  • 10.08 percent, age 6
  • 4.14 percent, age 10
  • 4.14 percent, age 12
  • 3.45 percent, age 5
  • 3.18 percent, age 14
  • 2.90 percent, age 13
 
The top ages of children accessing computer games include:
 
  • 16.79 percent, age 14
  • 12.77 percent, age 15
  • 11.31 percent, age 10
  • 10.95 percent, age 13
  • 9.85 percent, age 9
  • 9.49 percent, age 16
  • 7.66 percent, age 12
  • 6.57 percent, age 8
  • 5.11 percent, age 11
  • 3.28 percent, age 7
  • 2.92 percent, age 6
  • 1.82 percent, age 5
 
Top ages of minors and children on hate websites include:
 
  • 17.39 percent, age 14
  • 16.52 percent, age 15
  • 12.05 percent, age 16
  • 11.80 percent, age 17
  • 9.69 percent, age 13
  • 7.95 percent, age 12
  • 6.21 percent, age 11
  • 5.22 percent, age 10
  • 3.48 percent, age 9
  • 2.61 percent, age 8
  • 1.61 percent, age 18
  • 1.12 percent, age 7
 
Top ages of children on hacking websites include:
 
  • 21.03 percent, age 14
  • 17.76 percent, age 15
  • 14.48 percent, age 16
  • 9.48 percent, age 12
  • 8.45 percent, age 13
  • 6.21 percent, age 11
  • 4.66 percent, age 10
  • 3.28 percent, age 18
  • 2.76 percent, age 9
  • 1.90 percent, age 17
  • 1.55 percent, age 8
  • 1.03 percent, age 7
  • 1.03 percent, age 20
 
 — TJD, GMA News
Tags: children, pornography
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