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Survey Finds Nearly Half of 6- to 9-Year-Olds Talk to Friends Online and Use Social Networks

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News release: “AVG Technologies, Inc. announced it will make its leading Family Safety software available for free in exchange for a 99 cent donation to the American Red Cross family relief efforts in Joplin, Mo. The move comes in response to research the company conducted and has released over the course of the year on early childhood technology usage trends, “Digital Diaries” and is complemented with the release of a first-of-its-kind e-book and mobile application for teaching very young children the basics of online safety, Little Bird’s Internet Security Adventure.” AVG CEO JR Smith is making appearances across the country today urging parents to consider introducing their child to Little Bird to help them learn about online safety….Roughly half of today’s children (ages 6-9) are regularly talking to their friends online and using social networks, yet 58 percent of their parents admit they are not well-informed about their children’s online social networks. The “Digital Playground,” the third stage of AVG’s year-long “Digital Diaries” research program, further reveals the increasingly digitally-literate group of 6- to 9-year-olds and their parents in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand to find that:

  • More than half (51 percent) of 6- to 9-year-olds use some kind of children’s social network such as Club Penguin or WebKinz.
  • Roughly one in five use email, and despite being underage, 14 percent are on Facebook, according to their parents.
  • 47 percent of 6- to 9-year-olds talk to their friends on the Internet.
  • Almost one in six 6- to 9-year-olds and one in five 8- to 9-year-olds have experienced what their parents consider objectionable or aggressive behavior online.
  • American children average four hours online each week, slightly more than the worldwide average of 3.5 hours per week.
  • 58 percent of parents admit they are neither well-informed nor understand their children’s online social networks.
  • Only 56 percent of parents were certain their family computer has parental controls or safety programs in place.”
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