Study: Kids as social media savvy as adults by 13

AVG Digital Diaries

By Athima Chansanchai

A recent survey of 4,000 parents found that 11 is the age at which they would allow their children to enter into the world of social media, a full two years before Facebook officially allows them to be a part of the giant social network.

The survey, conducted by AVG for the fourth installation of its Digital Diaries study, revealed 53 percent of those polled in the U.S. said their kids were already on Facebook and Twitter as early tweens: 11.

By the time they're 13, they're old hands at posting status updates, tweeting and uploading pictures for their friends.

Live Poll

At what age would you allow your child on Facebook?

• 167881

  18. They're my child until then and I don't want them on the site.

  17%

• 167882

  15. They're in high school now and I trust them to make the right choices. They have to learn.

  45%

• 167883

  13, when Facebook allows it.

  24%

• 167884

  11. They're ready now and I'm supervising them.

  9%

• 167885

  9. My child can handle this now.

  5%

VoteTotal Votes: 76

They get help from their parents, it seems, unless they're saving up to buy their own computers and phones.

For this study, AVG surveyed parents of 10 to 13-year-olds during the week of September 12 from the following countries: the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.?

AVG found that a majority of 10-13 year old kids in every country (except New Zealand) and Japan have their own PC. For the most part, the computers are also in their bedrooms, especially In the UK. Aussies, though, like their computers to be out in the open, in the living room.

But today's kids don't just need PCs to go online?? they have phones.?

The survey founds 44 percent of 10 to 13-year-olds access social networks from their phones and in the U.S., that figure jumps to 56 percent.

Parents are, however, say they are being vigilant in their supervision, with?60 percent of those polled admitting they are looking at their kids' PCs. Two-thirds of the parents surveyed said they know their child's passwords, with six out of 10 checking out their PCs when they're not on them.?

Despite this, the AVG study "shows that kids are increasingly able to circumvent parental supervision."

To counter those acts of insubordination and independence-building, AVG has recommendations that include parents educating their children about clicking onto potentially dangerous links (on PCs and smartphones), remaining vigilant over their web surfing and installing software (and apps) that help monitor not only where their children are, but what they are doing online.

To see AVG's infographic that illustrates more of the study, it's below:

AVG Digital Diaries

More stories:

Check out Technolog on?Facebook, and on Twitter, follow?Athima Chansanchai, who is also trying to keep her head above water in the?Google+?stream.

Source: http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/15/8819806-survey-most-kids-are-as-social-media-savvy-as-adults-by-13

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