KidsOKOnline's research on children’s online safety shows that children understand the dangers of revealing personal information in social networks, but still a large number of children give away personal data.

The potential dangers of the Internet for children are well documented and understood by adults. But do children understand the dangers?

The KidsOKOnline (KOKO) team surveyed 2,287 children aged 6 to 14 in February 2008. Results showed that the large majority of children who are members of SuperClubsPLUS and GoldStarCafe, KOKO’s Safe Social Learning Networks, have a good grasp of the dangers, know how to protect themselves and know where to go for help if something goes wrong.

While it’s very difficult for children to exchange dangerous personal information in KOKO’s communities, 11% children have tried and 10% to 18% say they have given personal data away outside their Safe Social Learning Communities.

It's interesting to compare this with the findings of the UK Kids Go Online research in 2004:

"10% to 18% have given or requested personal contact information or passwords." - KOKO, 2008

"46% of children and young people say that they have given out personal information to strangers on the Internet" - LSE, UK Children Go Online research 2004

About KidsOKOnline
KOKO, founded by Robert and Carole Hart-Fletcher provides award-winning protected social networking and learning spaces - real online communities where children can learn, be creative, communicate and collaborate with other children and make their voices heard in a protected environment. KOKO helps children learn at home and at school with teachers, friends and family and carries out research into children's needs.

KOKO website: http://www.kidsokonline.com