According to an online survey conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) in March 2020, 29.6 percent of children had accepted a friend request from someone they did not know, and 23.4 percent said they had been online when they knew they were not supposed to be. Furthermore, almost four percent of kids in the UK had sent their name, address, or phone number to someone they had never met in person.
Risky online behavior of children in the United Kingdom as of March 2020
Characteristic
Share of respondents
Accepted a friend request from someone they did not know
29.6%
Have been online when they knew they were not supposed to
23.4%
Sent a photo or video of themselves to someone they have never met in person
5.9%
Sent their name, address or phone number to someone they have never met in person
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Office for National Statistics (UK). (February 9, 2021). Risky online behavior of children in the United Kingdom as of March 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 24, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1309703/uk-kids-risky-online-behavior/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Risky online behavior of children in the United Kingdom as of March 2020." Chart. February 9, 2021. Statista. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1309703/uk-kids-risky-online-behavior/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2021). Risky online behavior of children in the United Kingdom as of March 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 24, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1309703/uk-kids-risky-online-behavior/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Risky Online Behavior of Children in The United Kingdom as of March 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 Feb 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1309703/uk-kids-risky-online-behavior/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Office for National Statistics (UK), Risky online behavior of children in the United Kingdom as of March 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1309703/uk-kids-risky-online-behavior/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited January 24, 2025)
Risky online behavior of children in the United Kingdom as of March 2020 [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), February 9, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1309703/uk-kids-risky-online-behavior/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
