"Recommended Social Media Age is 13... Warning as Parents Neglect Even 3-Year-Olds Using It"

Children Surfing in 'Secret Mode' to Avoid Parental Monitoring

(Photo by Getty Images)

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jinsoo Lee] A warning has emerged that parents are even neglecting their 3-year-old children's use of social media sites.

Ofcom, the UK's broadcasting and telecommunications regulator, pointed out in a report published on the 30th of last month (local time) that 3 years old is 10 years younger than the recommended age for use.

According to the report, about 16% of children aged 3 to 4 share videos on the short video platform TikTok. Among children aged 5 to 7, this figure rises to 29%.

Among parents of children aged 5 to 7, 33%, and among parents of children aged 8 to 11, 60% responded that their children have social media profiles. However, the minimum age recommended by most platforms is 13 years old.

Ofcom warned that many children can cleverly use their own accounts or "Pinsta" (a second account restricted to certain people). Children do this, of course, to avoid parental supervision.

(Photo by Getty Images)

The report revealed that 64% of children aged 8 to 11 have multiple accounts or profiles.

Among children, 21% also surf in "Incognito Mode." This is a feature that does not save traces such as cookies or autocomplete history that users might leave on the browser from the start.

Some children even bypass websites that parents have set to be inaccessible.

Ofcom advised that it is very important to detect and block risks online. Melanie Dawes, Chair of Ofcom, said, "It is important to first have the tools and confidence to distinguish between real and fake information online," warning that "many parents and children do not clearly distinguish what is fake and what is real."