huffingtonpost - 1 days ago

The online world is vast – and while it can both educate and entertain kids for hours on end, there are murkier areas where they need to tread much more carefully. New research from safety experts at McAfee has uncovered the most common online threats facing British children, including: cyberbullying, inappropriate contact and scams.The study of over 4,300 parents found one in six say their child has been targeted by an online threat in the UK. The highest risk group is 12-year-old boys, with almost a third (32%) being targeted.For girls, online dangers tend to emerge later, with reports steadily climbing through the teens and peaking at age 16, where more than one in five parents (22%) say their daughter has been targeted.What are the most common online threats facing children?According to the research, cyberbullying or harassment from peers (48%) is the number one threat. Nearly half of UK parents say their child has experienced cyberbullying, while one in three (35%) ranking it in their top three worries.Cyberbullying can include mean comments, exclusion from online groups or spreading harmful rumours, often through social media platforms.Scams are also a huge problem – particularly fake social media giveaways or contests (33%), which purport to be giving away gaming consoles, smartphones or designer products.Children are lured into clicking fraudulent links or providing personal information, with boys aged 13-15 particularly vulnerable.Similarly, online gaming can be a hotbed for scams. Over a quarter (27%) of parents report their child has been affected by gaming-related fraud, such as fake offers for in-game currency, exclusive items or upgrades.Scammers often pose as fellow players, using familiarity and trust to get children to share passwords or personal info.There are also concerns about unsafe or inappropriate contact. One in four UK parents say their child has received inappropriate contact online, with girls being more frequently targeted (29% versus 21% for boys). Unknowns might try to initiate conversations with children via direct messages, chat rooms or even multiplayer gaming platforms.And lastly, scam messages or phishing texts (21%) – designed to trick recipients into divulging sensitive information, such as passwords, bank details or personal data – are a problem.Girls are significantly more likely to experience this (29%) than boys (14%), the study found, with those aged 16-18 most at risk. The rise of AI-generated scamsWorryingly, parents are also noticing a rise in the use of AI-generated deepfakes and nudify technology. Nearly one in six UK parents say their child has experienced deepfake image or nudify app misuse.Girls are facing this threat the most – 21% of parents say their daughter has been impacted, compared to just 11% for sons.Boys are more likely to be targeted by AI-generated voice cloning scams, instead – where fraudsters use AI to mimic the voice of loved ones through phone calls, voicemails or voice notes.Recently, experts advised families to come up with a “safe phrase” so they can tell if a phone call or message is an AI-generated scam or not. Understandably, when children are impacted by these online threats, the emotional and psychological effects are significant and can include anxiety, academic struggles and social withdrawal.How to keep kids safeIt’s clear parents need to be having ongoing conversations with their kids about online safety. (Check out these helpful guides from Internet Matters and the NSPCC if you need somewhere to start.)But what else can we be doing to keep kids safe? Here are McAfee’s top tips:Pair tools with talks: Combine parental controls with regular, judgement-free conversations about harmful content, coercion or bullying so your children know they can come to you. Explain what cyberbullying and scams might look like, and that it’s okay to block or report people.

Teach “trust but verify”: Show balanced digital habits yourself as children copy what they see. Show them how to pause, check sources and ask for help when something feels off – especially with AI-altered media.

Talk about the risks of oversharing: Remind children never to share personal information such as their name, school, address or phone number. Encourage strong passwords and explain two-factor authentication.

Set and revisit a family tech contract: Create clear boundaries with kids about screen time, online behaviour, and device use – and update them as your child grows.

Keep devices secure: Ensure all devices are updated with the latest security settings and include AI-powered scam protection to help spot and flag suspicious links or manipulated content before it can do harm.

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