Friday, June 17, 2011

New Zealand children used some kind of kids' social networking site, such as Disney's Club Penguin

Make way for the next Facebook generation.

Two-thirds of New Zealand children aged six to nine are using social networking sites for kids, according to a survey.

The age group spends an average of 3.7 hours online each week, slightly above the worldwide average of 3.5 hours.

The survey by security software firm AVG canvassed 2200 mums of children aged six to nine in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

It found 67 per cent of New Zealand children used some kind of kids' social networking site, such as Disney's Club Penguin - which lets members adopt animated penguins, play games and chat to friends online, Moshi Monsters or WebKinz.

That was well above the survey average of 51 per cent and ahead of Australian children on 60 per cent.

Mike Forrest, principal of Cashmere Avenue School in Khandallah, Wellington, said a number of children at the school had signed up to Club Penguin and Moshi Monsters.

"In many cases it's with their parents' supervision but I suspect in some cases it's not."

The survey found 12 per cent of New Zealand children in the age bracket used Facebook, although that did not mean they had a Facebook profile.

Mr Forrest said he would not be surprised if some nine to 10-year-olds were on older sites such as Facebook and Bebo, despite their age restrictions.

"Social networking has become part of everyday life for adults. It would be naive to not expect it to be something children are interested in."

Martin Cocker, director of cyber watchdog Netsafe, said: "Parents of children that age have got to be aware of the things their children could be exposed to online and to have those conversations about what to do if they feel uncomfortable early on in their children's lives."

The survey found 14 per cent of New Zealand children surveyed had encountered aggressive or unpleasant behaviour on the web.

Mr Forrest said there had been a few cases in which pupils had been upset by something online or in an email but they had been minor.

He said children of today needed to become web-savvy, adding: "If you want to be part of the human race you need to have those skills."

CHILD'S PLAY

- 67 per cent of New Zealand children aged six to nine use a social network for kids
- 36 per cent talk to their friends online
- 20 per cent use email
- 6 per cent use instant messaging tools
- 14 per cent have encountered aggressive or unpleasant behaviour online
- The age group spends on average 3.7 hours online each week, above the worldwide average of 3.5 hours
Source: AVG

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