13% of kids face cyber threats on cell phones

A latest survey has found that 13 percent of children worldwide are exposed to dangers such as cyber-bullying and sexually explicit images due to the growing popularity of mobile phones, local daily Straits Times reported on Friday. In Singapore, the rate is even higher at 16 percent, according to the Norton Online Family Report based on polls covering more than 4,500 children and 12,700 parents in 24 countries and regions. Experts said the higher level of exposure was due to higher level of mobile phone use in the city state. "More than six in ten children in Singapore own a mobile phone, " said Effendy Ibrahim, Symantec's Internet safety advocate and director for Asia. "Cyber criminals will continue to capitalize on the rising adoption of these mobile platforms, and it is important to have adequate safety measures." It was the first time mobile phones were included in the annual study. It also asked respondents about negative experiences on the Internet, including on computers. Seven in 10 youngsters in Singapore had encountered such problems, with the most common being strangers trying to befriend them on social networking sites. Another complaint was the number of violent images online. The study found the combined impact of these negative experiences left children feeling angry, fearful and upset. Nevertheless, a third of youngsters said they would not tell their mother and father in case their parents overreacted. Parents are advised to set clear rules and limits on Internet use by the children while they "always have two-way conversations with their children instead of interrogating them or engaging in a monologue," said psychologist Sheena Jebal. Only 58 percent of the parents talk to their children about online safety. It is found that a child who follows rules set by parents is less likely to come to harm online.