According to a survey, unrestricted access to online content on social networking sites is making minors susceptible to cyber bullying
Despite government’s strict norms that prohibit children under 13 from joining the social-networking site, nearly 76 percent of children ages 7 to 13 visit YouTube daily in tier-I and tier-II cities which can lead to negative outcomes such as cyber bullying and online sexual abuse, reveals the ASSOCHAM latest survey.
The statistics are sad and worrying. YouTube requires account holders to be 18, but even a five year-old can easily sign up with parent’s permission. Despite these clearly stated and published age restrictions, large and growing numbers of children between the age of 7 to 13 are using social media networks, access youtube assistance from their parent’s knowledge and consent, reveals the findings.
According to the latest survey conducted under social development foundation (SDF), nearly 76 per cent of Indian teens are using online content daily on social networking sites, as majority of the parents help kids to access the site. Sixty nine per cent of the most watch content on the video website are music videos.
The survey was conducted under ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF) of 4,750 parents of the age group 6-13 years old in major metropolitan cities like lucknow ranks 1st followed by Delhi-NCR (second), Mumbai (third), Ahemdabad (fourth), Chennai (fifth), Kolkata (sixth), Bangalore (seventh), Hyderabad (eighth), Pune, Coimbatore, Chandigarh and Dehradun.
The vast majority (75 percent) of the parents of 7-13 year-olds are aware of their child for signing up for the social networking sites.
While releasing the survey, ASSOCHAM secretary general, DS Rawat said, “Children are gaining access to social media sites at a younger age, which could expose them to objectionable content, people or situations that are out of their depth”.
As per the findings, nearly 76 per cent of 13-year-olds, 69 per cent of 11-year-olds and 65 per cent of 10-year-old are on Youtube, while 40-50 per cent of eight and nine-year-olds are also active on the other site, reveals the findings.
BK Rao, chairman of ASSOCHAM health committee said, “Minors lack the experience or judgment to use a social network and this raises the scary predators tracking down kids who reveal their age in an online chat, cyber bullying and online sexual abuse”.
Rawat said, “The easy availability of technology with lack of parental supervision is a significant reason for this ever-increasing menace of technology addiction”, highlights the survey.
An aspect which emerged out of this survey is that children of working parents are found to be more technology addictive in the absence of parental supervision, as compared to those whose single parent is engaged in employment. This trend is abundant in metros where normally both the parents are employed.
“Having a genuine and transparent two-way communication with children is absolutely fundamental to establishing a safe and positive cyber experience,” reveals the paper.
Despite the clearly stated and published age restrictions, large and growing numbers of children of 13 and under are using social media networks, often with their parent’s knowledge and consent.
Watching video clips is also widely popular in part to YouTube – which happens to be the most popular website. Kids, of course, love watching video clips — especially the funny ones. They are also using it as a “search engine” to find video clips.
Kids in developing countries also use computers more frequently. On average, they use computers 12-14 hours a week versus eight hours a week (for kids in developed countries).
‘YouTube’ is now the world’s third most popular online destination. Of the 3.2 billion people who have Internet access, more than one billion watch content there. It has more Indian viewers ages 18 to 49 just on mobile than any cable network, adds the paper.
As per the ASDF’s findings:
· Ninety five per cent of teens (12-17) use the Internet.
· Eighty one per cent use social media (compared with 72 per cent of Internet users overall).
· Seventy two per cent log into social media more than once per day.
· Sixty three per cent of kids under 13 use social media sites.
· Seventy six per cent of kids under 13 have a YouTube account.
· Fifty one per cent of those said that they have a smartphone.
· The majority of teens are using laptops (35 per cent) and tablets (32 per cent) to access their favorite websites.
· YouTube is the most popular site, with 75 per cent of teens saying that they access it most often.