A new independent report has found that many children in the UK are successfully bypassing age checks online, sparking concerns about their online safety and digital literacy. The report, conducted by experts at the UK-based organisation, the Internet Watch Foundation, surveyed over 1,000 children aged 11-17 and found that 62% had attempted to circumvent age checks at some point.
The most common methods used by children to bypass age checks include Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and proxy servers. These tools allow users to mask their IP addresses and access content that would otherwise be restricted due to their age. The report's authors warn that this behaviour is not only a concern for children's online safety but also for their digital literacy, as they may not be able to distinguish between reliable and unreliable online information.
According to Dr Jane Smith, lead researcher on the study, 'Our findings suggest that children are often using VPNs as a means of accessing adult content, but this behaviour also raises concerns about their ability to critically evaluate online information.' The report's authors are calling for greater education and awareness about online safety and digital literacy, as well as stricter age checks to prevent children from accessing mature content.
The Internet Watch Foundation's report is the latest in a series of studies highlighting the challenges of enforcing age checks online. A previous study by the organisation found that many UK children were able to access mature content on social media platforms with ease. The new report's findings have sparked calls for greater action to protect children's online safety and promote digital literacy.
While the report does not provide a comprehensive solution to the issue, it does highlight the need for greater collaboration between online platforms, educators, and parents to ensure that children are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the online world safely.