Request Media Kit

McAfee Studies What Teens Are Getting Away with Online

McAfee has released the results of a study today, finding that nearly half of online teens have shared personal information with strangers. The ...
McAfee Studies What Teens Are Getting Away with Online
Written by Chris Crum
  • McAfee has released the results of a study today, finding that nearly half of online teens have shared personal information with strangers. The study looked at this and other areas of concern for parents.

    McAfee looks at what teens are up to online "Keeping kids safe no longer only means teaching them about the dangers of alcohol or how to deal with a school bully," says McAfee’s Tracy Mooney. "This report is a wake-up call to the real dangers our teens face when they make themselves vulnerable online. As a mom, it worries me that kids aren’t practicing safe ‘street smarts’ when they’re online."

    "Kids know not to talk to strangers – it’s one of the first lessons you teach them. But online, there’s a sense of trust and anonymity, so kids let their guard down," says Mooney. "Kids would never hand out their name and address to a stranger in the real world, so it’s alarming to see how many kids do that very thing online."

    The study of 955 US 13-17 year olds, conducted by Harris Interactive found:

    – 69% of 13-17 year olds have updated their status on social networking sites to include their physical location
    – 28% of teens chat with people they don’t know in the offline world
    – 43% shared their first name
    – 24% shared their email address
    – 18% shared a personal photo of themselves
    – 12% shared their cell phone number
    – Girls are more likely than boys to chat with people online that they don’t know in the offline world, (32% vs. 24%)
    – 14% of 13-17 year olds admit to having engaged in some form of cyberbullying behavior in 2010
    – 22% say they wouldn’t know what to do if they were cyberbullied
    – 87% of teens go online somewhere other than at home
    – 54% access from their friends’ or relatives’ houses
    – 30% of teens access the Web through a phone and 21% through a video game system
    – 23% of kids go online anywhere with an open Wi-Fi signal
    – 38% close or minimize the browser when their parents enter the room
    – 32% clear the browser history when they are done using the computer
    – 55% of 13-17 year olds hide what they do online from parents
    – 27% accidentally allowed a virus, spyware, or other software to infect the family computer
    – 46% admit to downloading music or videos from a free service
    – 16% of 16-17 year old boys have downloaded x-rated content

    The report in its entirety can be found here (pdf). Are you surprised with any of the stats listed? Share your thoughts.

    Get the WebProNews newsletter delivered to your inbox

    Get the free daily newsletter read by decision makers

    Subscribe
    Advertise with Us

    Ready to get started?

    Get our media kit