Children worried by cyber bullies

By Ben Fenton, Financial Times
Published: Jan 18, 2008

Children are more worried about being bullied in cyberspace than any threat from paedophiles, the psychologist heading a government inquiry into the effects of the internet on the young told the Oxford Media Convention, writesBen Fenton .

Tanya Byron, half way through a six-month study, said of bullying: "It starts in the classroom, and when they get home, it's all over someone's MySpace page."

As for paedophiles, she said one girl had told her: "We kind of know who the creepy people are and what they say, and we kind of ignore them."

Although children were adept at exploiting the ignorance of their parents about the internet and gaming, many would prefer to be able to talk to their mother or father about their online lives, said Dr Byron.

Parents often failed to use existing security controls on computers and games consoles to protect their children because they did not understand them.