Many Under-13s 'using Facebook'

Almost half of British young kids elderly 9 to 12 are using amicable networking sites, notwithstanding minimum age limits, a inform claims.

One in 5 has a Facebook page, even even though manners say they contingency be 13, according to EUKidsOnline.

The report's authors indicate that stealing such mandate would make it simpler to guard online behaviour.

However, children's gift Kidscape criticised the thought and warned it would lead to more cyber bullying.

The investigate , carried out by the London School of Economics is to European Commission, was formed on a consult of 25,000 young people - elderly between 9 and 16 - from opposite Europe.

It asked if they confirmed a amicable networking profile.

In the UK, 43% of 9 to 12-year-olds answered yes, along with 88% of 13 to 16-year-olds.

The Netherlands had the top commission of young kids on amicable networks at 70% - however many of these were users of Hyves, a site that does not have a minimum age.

Across Europe the median figure for 9 to 12-year-olds was 38%.

Report writer Elisabeth Staksrud, from the University of Oslo, told BBC News that it was unavoidable young kids would be drawn to sites such as Facebook: "If you're twelve you wish to be where your peers are".

The inform moreover suggests that where parents do levy a despotic process on amicable networking, the most of young people apply oneself that guidance.

In France, 45% of parents mentioned their young kids were banned from using amicable networking sites, the top of any nation in the survey.

Consequently, that nation had the lowest suit of young kids using amicable networking at 25%.

Peter Bradley, from youngster insurance gift Kidscape, mentioned it showed that parents contingency be definite with their young kids when it comes to internet use.

"Children are children, adults are adults. Sometimes you have to say no to your child," he said.

However, Elisabeth Staksrud believes that by acknowledging young kids next the age of 13 are using services, amicable networking sites could rise measures to safeguard them.

"Since young kids frequently distortion about their age to come together 'forbidden' sites it would be more functional to pick out younger users and to aim them with easy-to-use protecting measures," she said.

The inform concedes that whilst this draw close would help keep existing users safer, it could moreover lead to a significant enlarge in underage young kids signing up.

Mr Bradley told the BBC he strongly believed that obscure the minimum age for Facebook would be wrong.

"Without doubt, if the age confine was private from Facebook, the outcome would be an enlarge in the number of young people accessing the site," he told the BBC.

"Automatically you'll have a larger enlarge of those at chance of bullying online.

"Abolishing the age confine is an unambiguous patrolman out really."

In a statement, Facebook mentioned that it welcomed the consideration that the study had focused on the issue.

"Recent reports have highlighted only how tough it is to exercise age restrictions on the Internet and that there is no singular answer to ensuring younger young kids do not by-pass a network or distortion about their age," it said.

The company mentioned that features such as the Facebook safety centre helped to keep young kids protected whilst using the site. But, it added, family groups had a purpose to fool around too.

"Just as parents are always training and reminding kids how to cranky the thoroughfare safely, conversing about internet safety should be only as critical a doctrine to learn."