Concepedia

Risky Social Networking Practices Among “Underage” Users: Lessons for Evidence-Based Policy

Sonia Livingstone, Kjartan Ólafsson, Elisabeth Staksrud

Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication · 2013 · 121 citations · 13 references

Open access

TL;DR

European self‑regulation to protect children on social networking sites mandates that providers verify age, deliver safety messages, enable privacy controls, discourage personal data disclosure, and provide user‑friendly reporting mechanisms. The study evaluates the regulatory framework for children’s safety on social networking sites using survey data from more than 25,000 9‑ to 16‑year‑olds across 25 European countries. A survey of over 25,000 9‑ to 16‑year‑olds from 25 European countries was conducted to assess the regulatory framework. The survey revealed that many underage users lack digital skills to use social networking sites safely, yet most comply with parental rules, and the results inform policy decisions on lower age limits and self‑regulation.

Abstract

European self-regulation to ensure children's safety on social networking sites requires that providers ensure children are old enough to use the sites, aware of safety messages, empowered by privacy settings, discouraged from disclosing personal information, and supported by easy to use reporting mechanisms. This article assesses the regulatory framework with findings from a survey of over 25000 9- to 16-year-olds from 25 European countries. These reveal many underage children users, and many who lack the digital skills to use social networking sites safely. Despite concerns that children defy parental mediation, many comply with parental rules regarding social networking. The implications of the findings are related to policy decisions on lower age limits and self-regulation of social networking sites.