17 Jun 2010

Children exposed to negative experiences online - report

6:09 pm on 17 June 2010

A report on children's internet use suggests nearly two-thirds of children have had a negative experience online.

The Norton online family report is based on surveys of more than 7000 adults and almost 3000 children in 14 countries about their online habits.

It says 63% of children reported a bad experience, from exposure to nudity and violence to having a stranger try to meet them in real life.

However, only 45% of adults reported this had happened.

An Internet Safety Advocate for Symantec, which produced the survey, says the results also show children want the help of their parents when things go wrong.