New Tweens, Teens and Technology Report reveals that children as young as eight are adopting online behaviours of teens
Sydney Australia, 21 May 2013 –Children as young as eight (tweens) are adopting technology faster than expected, particularly social networking, with [1]67 per cent revealing they are currently using a social media site. They are also more advanced in their device usage with between three and four internet enabled devices being used by tweens at any one time.
Of those tweens using devices, two-thirds are on mobiles and tablets for approximately 1.5 hours per day and 42 per cent are using this time to chat with friends. Yet despite the age eligibility for Facebook being 13 years old, 1 in 4 tweens admit to currently using Facebook.
Released at a roundtable discussion with Senator The Hon. Stephen Conroy Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy as part of National Cyber Security Awareness Week, the report titled Tweens, Teens and Technology Report is an extension of the McAfee Secret Life of Teens report last year and was commissioned to identify the online behaviour gaps between tweens, teens and parents in the digital world.
So while it’s a message for parents to take note, perhaps one of the most surprising findings is that it’s the parents who are giving permission for their child to be on social media. 92 per cent of tweens said that they are friends with their parents on Facebook and a further 95 per cent said they had their parents permission to be on there.
Commenting on the report Andrew Littleproud, President, McAfee Asia Pacific said, “The findings are a welcome spotlight on tweens[2]. With the national rollout of the NBN and the increase use of devices by our younger audience in the homes, both parents and schools are encouraged to keep a close monitor on their child’s online behaviour to ensure they have safe online experiences.
“By working closely with child psychologists, we have seen that online behaviours become entrenched in the tween age group so proactive education is critical within 8-12 age bracket,” Mr Littleproud continued.
Tween Usage Trends
- Skype is the most popular social website for tweens, with 28 per cent using the site
- Club Penguin is also a prominent site with 22 per cent of tweens on there
- Instagram is also now on the radar of tweens with 10 per cent using it for social media and to publish images
- Despite the age eligibility for Facebook (13 years old), 1 in 4 (26%) of tweens are currently using Facebook
Stranger Danger and Risky Online Behaviour
- Worryingly, risky online behaviour is starting young:
- 1 in 5 tweens said they chatted to someone online that they didn’t know
- 2 in 5 (39%) of tweens are currently using a risky password
- Whilst only 7 per cent of tweens are sharing personal information online
- 21 per cent of tween Instagram users do not know all of the people they are friends with and sharing their personal photo’s with
Cyber Bullying
For an eight year old child, cyber bullying is already becoming an issue with 25 per cent saying they have witnessed nasty comments online directed at them or their friend and interestingly, as a tween gets older and into their teen age years (11-12 years old), 38 per cent said they had been exposed to cyber bullying.
However, in a positive direction, both younger and older tweens will tell their parents if they have been exposed to risky behaviour with 71 per cent of tweens saying they told their parents.
From Tween to Teen
- In a direct comparison to both pieces of research, the age for accessing social networking sites is lowering as teens[1] said their first encounter with social media was not actually until the age of 13
- Cyber bullying becomes an even bigger issue once a tween enters their teenage years with half of all teens (53 per cent) being exposed to cyber bullying
- Although tweens are good at keeping parents informed, this generally dries up in teenage years with only 38 per cent of teens saying they told their parents
- 6 per cent of teens have gone one step further than their tween counterparts by actually meeting up with a stranger who they met online
“Both reports we have conducted have given us such a rich window into the daily digital life of a tween and teen. We can now make direct comparisons of both audiences and focus on the big watch-outs we have uncovered,” Mr Littleproud said.
Leading parenting expert with a PHD in psychology, Dr. Justin Coulson, said the findings are surprising and encouraging at the same time, “Both research and experience are confirming that the personal impact that online pressures can have on these age groups from an emotional and developmental perspective is enormous.
“While it’s surprising to see just how integrated tweens are with the online social world, it’s encouraging to see that their parents are involved both online and offline. I am hopeful that these findings will highlight the need for both parents and educators to start having positive conversations with their children,” Dr. Coulson concluded.
McAfee cybermum and mum of four boys in both tween and teen age group, Alex Merton-McCann echoed Dr. Coulson’s comments and said it’s a good time for parents to embrace the online world.
“I know the online world can be scary for parents, trust me I’ve been there but having genuine two-way communication with your children is absolutely fundamental to
establishing a safe and positive cyber experience,” Alex concluded.
Closing commentary on the report, Mr Littleproud said, “Parents, educators and government, we all need to work together to deliver positive education and experiences that can help shape the online future of our young children.
“So McAfee is working hand-in-hand with government, police, educators and parents to address cyber education and as part of this on-going commitment, we have partnered with Life Education to launch a new module called bCyberwise which is aimed at educating children in schools across Australia, “ Mr Littleproud contined.
Since launching in February this year, the cyber education program has been incredibly well received in schools across the nation with over 21,000 students being educated on cyber safety during the first term.
The new bCyberwise module expands the Life Education Program that currently reaches over 620,000 primary school children across Australia.
For more information, please visit www.mcafeecybered.com and www.lifeeducation.org.au
