Almost a third of children aged eight to thirteen have given out personal details to people they’ve met online, according to new research.

The survey of 2,000 children, commissioned by O2, also revealed their social media profiles contained potentially sensitive information, with almost a quarter displaying their email address and 8% showing their phone number.

It was also found that, from a list of 36 apps, children were most likely to say they used YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat regularly. But just 37% of children feel their parents understand YouTube, with that figure dropping below 10% for Snapchat.

The news comes as O2 and the NSPCC relaunch Net Aware, a website designed for parents to learn more about the latest apps, sites and games theirchildren are using, along with technical and safeguarding tips.

The survey results also showed that parents are more likely to talk to their children about safety in the real world versus the online world.

While 82% of parents speak to their kids about wearing a seatbelt, and 81% tell children about the importance of saying no when they are asked to do something they’re uncomfortable with in the real world, less than two thirds (65%) of parents check who their kids talk to online.

Both O2 and the NSPCC recognise that keeping children safe online can feel overwhelming for parents. Net Aware takes away the fear factor and encourages parents to have regular conversations with their children about their online lives. 

Strictly Come Dancing presenter, and mum of two, Tess Daly has teamed up with O2 and NSPCC to launch the Net Aware site. She said:

“I know how difficult the topic of online safety can be between parents and their kids. It’s our job as parents to do all we can to make sure our children know about staying safe online, and to make sure we have open conversations with them so they feel comfortable asking questions they might think seem awkward.

“The new Net Aware site helps you keep up to date on the latest social networks, apps and games children use, letting you know about their safety features and whether they’re age appropriate. It’s really helped me get a better understanding of how to talk to my kids about the online world. You’d talk to your child about not talking to strangers in the real world, and it’s really important to apply that to apps and games too.”

Net Aware is free to access at net-aware.org.uk.