Kidscape reveals 60% of young people who speak to strangers online lie about their age

Despite warnings about the dangers of the Internet, a new survey by Kidscape reveals that many young people are still taking chances online which could endanger themselves and others.

The survey, which assessed young people’s cyber lives through an online questionnaire, sampled over 2,300 people aged 11-18 from England, Scotland and Wales. The survey was conducted in time for Safer Internet Day on 8 February and was based on this years motto ‘Virtual Lives; It’s more than a game, it’s your life.’

The results highlighted that one in two young people lie about their personal details on the Internet. Of those, the one in eight young people who speak to strangers online are the most likely to lie, with 60% lying about their age and 40% about their personal relationships. This suggests that many young people adopt a different identity online.

Download the complete set of results

Peter Bradley, Kidscape’s Deputy Director and a psychotherapist specialising in adolescents said, “We were alarmed by the number of risks being taken by teenagers whilst online. We know that safe online behaviour is taught in schools and by other organisations like us, but teenagers seem to be unable to relate the risks to themselves. There appears to be a group of children vulnerable to harm on the internet who in real life don’t register as being at risk. This new research should challenge teenagers, parents and professionals to do the best we can to make internet safety guidelines meaningful to everyone. ”

Over 45% of young people who responded to the survey reported that they are sometimes happier online compared to their real lives. 47% of teens also said that they behave differently online. Peter Bradley continues, “These findings suggest that children see cyberspace as detachable from the real world and a place where they explore parts of their behaviour and personality that they possibly would not show in real life. They seem unable to understand that actions online can have repercussions in the real world. We can’t allow cyber-worlds to be happier places than our real communities, otherwise, we are creating a generation of young people not functioning adequately in our society.”

More of the key findings of the survey with comments made by respondents were:

When asked, do you always tell your parents the truth about what you do online, 53% said they didn’t.

“It’s only the internet, I don’t think anything really actually matters on the internet unless you are telling strangers where you live.”

Most young people start to change their identities and act differently online at just 11 years old

“I make it out as if I’m sexier and more rude [online]”
“I’m gay online and straight offline”

Many find freedom in the anonymity of the Internet.

“Anonymity is my shield, I was bullied and I felt horrible so when I went on email I had a nickname and nobody knew who I was so I could be the real me.”
“Well I have insulted a lot of people in my time and online is where I do most of my work in terms of mass insultation”

The reasons why young people behave differently online include: to see how people react (16%), to explore a different side of their personality (16%), to make a friendship (22%) and they are more adventurous as different rules apply online (9%)

People who always act differently online are at most risk online:

39% of young people who always behave differently online are rude or inappropriate online, compared to only 13% of people who never act differently online
25% of people who always behave differently online never tell their parents the truth about that they do online, compared to only 6% of young people who never act differently online.
44% of people who always behave differently online speak to strangers online, compared to only 8% of people who never act differently online.
30% of people who always behave differently online always feel happier online, compared to 4% who never act differently online

The dangers of spending too much time online:

26% of children spend more than 3 hours a day online and are rude and inappropriate online, compared to only 6% of young people who only go online once a week.
12% of young people spend more than 3 hours a day online and never tell their parents the truth about what they do online, compared to 8% of young people who only go online once a week
26% of young people spend more than 3 hours a day online and talk to strangers, compared to only 5% of people who go online once a week
37% of teens spend more than 3 hours a day online and lie about themselves online, compared to only 13% of children who online go online once a week.
10% of children spend 3 hours a day online and always feel happier online, compared to only 5% of children who only go online once a week

Males are more at risk online compared to females:

Males are twice as likely than females to act inappropriately or rude online and never tell their parents the truth about their online activities
Males are more likely to speak to strangers online compared to females
Males are 10% more likely to lie online than girls
Males are nearly twice as likely to always act differently online compared to females
Males are much more likely to be more dangerous online and explore negative sides of their personality that they would possibility not show in real life. 21% of males act differently online to see how people react compared to only 11% of girls.

Kidscape are also launching an online campaign on Safer Internet Day.

Kidscape Share It aims to raise awareness of bullying, which can also include cyber bullying, by providing a way for people to share thoughts and feelings about bullying via a blog

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Kidscape reveals 60% of young people who speak to strangers online lie about their age

More of the key findings of the survey with comments made by respondents were:

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