The latest “Children’s Internet” report reveals that more than half of children aged 7-12 actively use social media platforms and instant messaging services designed for people over 13. One in three children aged 7-14 visit sites with adult content, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of parental control and age regulations on the Internet. 

Social media preferences 

Among social media sites, TikTok is the most popular among children aged 7-12. Young users visit it multiple times a day, spending an average of 2 hours and 11 minutes on the platform. They use Facebook (24%) and Instagram (12%) less intensively. Among messengers, Messenger (38%) and WhatsApp (31%) have the most users. Children often use these apps to keep in touch with their peers, but also to communicate with people they meet online, which can involve the risk of cyberbullying or contact with strangers. 

Time spent online and content categories 

Children aged 7-14 are the most frequent users of social media and streaming platforms, spending on them more than 2 hours and nearly 2 hours a day, respectively. The most popular content categories are culture, entertainment, education and erotica. 

Entertainment platforms such as YouTube and Netflix are extremely popular. Many children watch age-appropriate content, but recommendation algorithms can also direct their attention to inappropriate material. Among the top ten most visited domains by 7-14-year-olds was a pornography site, which was visited in December by one in three children from this age group. The increase in interest in erotic content is of particular concern to experts, as it affects children’s emotional development and perception of interpersonal relationships. 

Threats in the digital environment 

Research commissioned by the Children’s Ombudsman indicates that young people are aware of numerous online threats. The most frequently cited are hate speech (84%), stalking (77%) and publishing content without the consent of the person depicted (74%). 

Girls are more likely than boys to point to hate( 90% vs. 78%) and AI generated or altered photos (55% vs. 48%) as dangerous phenomena. Cyberbullying in the form of exclusion from online groups, spreading compromising material or sharing private information is an increasingly reported problem. 

Need for education and support 

As many as 44% of young people say they always or almost always have someone they can turn to in case of a worrying situation online. At the same time, nearly one-fifth of teens would like to take a class on safety in the virtual world. 

Parents and teachers have a key role in developing healthy digital habits. It is important to take a conscious approach to media education, teaching critical thinking and the ability to assess the credibility of content found online. Educational programs should take into account the realities of the modern Internet, including topics related to misinformation, content manipulation and the consequences of overexposure to social media. 

The conclusions of the “Internet of Children” report are alarming. Children are already using the Internet en masse at an early age, and protection tools against harmful content are proving inadequate. The aforementioned platforms are intended for people over the age of 13 or even 18, but the lack of effective protection measures means that the youngest users have unrestricted access to content inappropriate for their age. 

The situation calls for urgent interventions by market regulators and institutions concerned with protecting children and young people from violence, abuse and all forms of objectification – sexual and commercial. Equally important is the involvement of parents and educators in the conscious formation of digital competencies of the youngest Internet users. 

 Sources: Instytut Cyfrowego Obywatelstwa, Rzecznik Praw Dziecka