Half of children aged 8-12 are being exposed to the risk of engaging with strangers, as they have no parental restriction on their gaming and chatting online, a survey has found. “Our research shows many children are navigating complex online spaces largely alone, with little meaningful parental oversight,” its CEO Alex Cooney said. An overwhelming majority of these children (93%) go online to game or use apps, often on platforms designed for older users. Snapchat, YouTube, and Whatsapp are also platforms where children share images, with girls more likely to do so than boys. Picture: Patrick BrowneEven when parents set rules, almost half (49%) say they’re not always enforced.

Source: Irish Examiner February 10, 2026 00:12 UTC