Symantec research shows that “sex” and “porn” rank just behind popular social networking sites as UK kids trawl the web. During 2009, the most popular search terms were social networking sites, YouTube and Google. Unsurprisingly, searches for sex and porn were near the top of the list for the 13-18 age group, but more worryingly those aged between eight-12 and even those aged seven and under had adult search terms firmly in the top 20.
The researchers found that parents rate Internet dangers higher on their list of concerns than drugs. Fifty six percent of parents are concerned their kids may come across Internet dangers, which could include online predators and cyber bullies, versus drug-related threats (44%).
In addition, unchecked web surfing could lead to a home PC becoming infected with malware, if kids click on fake security alerts, or open or respond to spam. Each of these activities increases the computer user’s risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime.
“When it comes to online threats, parents need to be concerned about more than just their child running into inappropriate content,” says Symantec’s Marian Merritt. She believes there’s a need to promote positive and proactive family dialogue to help protect and educate young people online, as well as give parents a clearer understanding of their children’s online activities.
“Software like OnlineFamily.Norton can be invaluable as it gives parents insight into kids’ online activities and interests, facilitating family discussion and protection against cyber threats,” says Merritt.