Over half of children at risk of online contact from strangers

Kenneth Fox

Over half of children are at risk of online contact from strangers, according to research from CyberSafeKids.

51 per cent of children have no parental restrictions around online contact, such as chatting and gaming with people they do not know, exposing them to risks of engaging with strangers, according to Ireland's online safety charity.

Just 39 per cent of 8–12-year-olds say their parents can “check, monitor, or control” what they do online, leaving many exposed to inappropriate content or contact from strangers.

The findings, based on survey responses from more than 3,300 primary school children (aged 8-12) and over 1,700 parents, show that children are highly active online. 93 per cent of this age group go online to game or use apps, often using platforms designed for older users.

CyberSafeKidslaunched its fifth ‘Same Rules Apply’ parental awareness campaign. Supported by the HSE and Accenture, the campaign empowers parents with the essential knowledge and tools they need to keep their children safe online.

Despite regulatory requirements introduced in Ireland in July 2025, 69 per cent of 8–12-year-olds have at least one account on a social media platform with a legal age rating of 13+, with prevalence rising to 79 per cent for 12-year-olds.

21 per cent of the children surveyed have some accounts set as ‘public’, while 17 per cent report having ‘friends’ or followers they do not know offline.

Boys are significantly more likely than girls to have some accounts set to ‘public’ (25 per cent vs. 16 per cent), and one in 10 boys report having no privacy settings enabled at all.

These findings suggest that many children don't have a clear understanding of online privacy and risk, increasing the likelihood of them oversharing and interacting with strangers.

The research also found that 31 per cent of children post photos or videos of themselves online, most commonly on TikTok, followed by Snapchat and YouTube.

Messaging platform WhatsApp is also a very popular place for sharing images (by posting to status or sending in groups). Girls are more likely to share images and videos than boys (34 per cent vs. 28 per cent).

Children's responses also suggest gaps in parental guidance around online safety and privacy.

Only 47 per cent of 8-12-year-olds say they have rules in place at home about having accounts set to ‘private’ or sharing photos and videos of themselves online.

Many parents say they feel ill-equipped and lack confidence when it comes to managing their children’s online activities.

Less than half (47 per cent) use parental controls, and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) say they “wouldn’t know where to begin”. 25 per cent of parents report they are “not at all” familiar and “do not understand” the games and apps their child uses, while just 13 per cent say they are “very” familiar or “have used the apps themselves”.

While most parents said they set rules and limits around screen time and online activity, almost half (49 per cent) admit that “they’re not always enforced”.

Alex Cooney, chief executive of CyberSafeKids, said: “Our research shows many children are navigating complex online spaces largely alone, with little meaningful parental oversight.

"They are using platforms not designed for their age or safety, often sharing photos and videos without understanding who can see them or how far they can spread.

"Without clear guidance, children may overshare — and with the rise of nudification tools and 'AI girlfriend' apps, their content can be altered and misused, putting them at serious risk. Parents cannot manage this alone and urgently need stronger, effective regulation to help keep children safe online.”