Fact: 1 in 3 internet users worldwide is a child
UNICEF found that one in three internet users worldwide is a child, so the online world is built around kids — and parents need to know how to keep them safe.
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UNICEF found that one in three internet users worldwide is a child, so the online world is built around kids — and parents need to know how to keep them safe.
One in three people using the internet is a child. That is the finding from UNICEF, in its flagship report The State of the World's Children 2017: Children in a Digital World. Young people are now the most connected of all age groups, and many children have a digital footprint before they can even walk or talk.
The scale keeps growing. UNICEF also reports that more than 175,000 children go online for the first time every day — a new child every half second. The internet is not an adults-only place that children occasionally visit. It is a place where children are a huge part of the audience, the creators and the customers.
That changes what parents should expect. Apps, games and platforms are designed for young users, even when they claim otherwise, and the risks grow just as fast as the opportunities — from cyberbullying to the misuse of private information. Teaching your child about their digital footprint is one of the simplest ways to start, and understanding the world they live in — even their slang, like skibidi — helps you talk with them instead of at them.
What parents can do
Talk early and talk often about what your child sees and shares online. Set clear rules together, use parental controls as a safety net rather than a substitute for conversation, and check privacy settings on every app your child uses. The internet was not built with children in mind, but one in three of its users is a child — so make sure yours is one of the protected ones.