Exclusive:
Children feel they have to hand over their personal data to access apps and services their friends are using, according to bombshell research but parents are in the dark
A quarter of three and four-year-olds now own a phone, according to Ofcom, yet, worryingly, parents are being left in the dark about what their children are getting up to online.
Alarming results from a survey for independent regulator the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reveal that children feel their data is their only currency and see it as a “necessary exchange” in return for accessing services and apps they need to feel socially included.
“Kids don’t have much else to trade to get access to the services that they want to online, and there is that peer pressure as well,” says the UK Information Commissioner, John Edwards. “But children, depending on their age, mostly are not well equipped to understand the trade-offs they’re making and the privacy implications of their online activity.”
Research conducted by Savanta on behalf of the ICO found nearly half (42%) of parents feel they have little or no control over the information social media collects on their children, while a quarter (23%) have stopped using some platforms because of their concerns over how this data is used or harvested.
In 2023 the ICO fined TikTok £12.7million for failing to keep under-13s from accessing its platform and “misusing children’s data”. Since then, TikTok and other social platforms have brought in changes to prevent children aged 13-18 from seeing harmful content and from sharing too much online, including turning off geolocation settings, restricting direct messaging and monitoring the type of content they can see.
But Mr Edwards strongly advises that parents should always activate the parental control settings on any app their children use. “Society is changing and children are entitled to access digital platforms in a safe way,” he says. “Parents should be curious about what their kids are up to online, but we have to say to the providers, if you make a service that can be accessed by children, you must make it safe for them. And if you don’t, there will be consequences.”
The NSPCC provides guidelines to help parents keep their children safe online. On its website it says: “Talking regularly with your child can help keep them safe online. Making it part of daily conversation, like you would about their day at school, will help your child feel relaxed. It also means when they do have any worries, they’re more likely to come and speak to you.”
The charity has resources available to help you educate children on online safety depending on their age. The NSPCC advises:
For under-11s
- Resources like Talk PANTS and Techosaurus will help.
- Make sure you’re using language they can understand.
- If you suspect grooming or exploitation, you should report this to the police.
For older children and teenagers
Their needs and behaviour will be changing and they may find talking to you about difficult topics embarrassing. They will still look to you for support, so it’s worth continuing to check in with them regularly, even if there’s nothing they want to talk about.