Almost one in ten (9%) young people across the UK and the US have been exposed to illegal content including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) when going online, according to research launched by online safeguarding tech VerifyMy on Safer Internet Day. The survey interviewed 2,000 individuals aged 16-19 and revealed that young people encounter harmful content within minutes of going online. This includes content they consider unsafe, age-restricted, or illegal. Shockingly, almost a third (29%) reported seeing content related to self-harm, while a quarter (25%) witnessed extreme violence and 12% were exposed to extreme pornography.
The research also found that only half of the respondents (49%) encountered safety measures designed to restrict their access to 18+ content. Of those, 53% were asked to self-declare their date of birth, 32% encountered facial age estimation, and 27% were asked to provide some form of identification, such as a passport or driving license.
Parents are increasingly concerned about their children seeing inappropriate content online, and this research provides startling insights into the frequency with which young people come across age-restricted, unsafe, or illegal materials. Over one in ten (11%) reported encountering such content once a week, while 10% experienced it 2-3 days a week, and 7% were exposed to it every day they went online.
Social media platforms were identified as the source of such content by over a third (35%) of respondents. The NSPCC has also pointed out that these platforms contribute to an increase in grooming crimes. Additionally, almost one in five (19%) reported being exposed to materials shared by strangers, 14% by someone they consider a friend, and 13% by someone they interacted with through online gaming or chat.
Despite efforts from schools and parents to teach young people about online safety, the research revealed that many are unsure how to respond when encountering unsafe or age-restricted content. While 36% reported the content to the website where they found it, 38% simply closed the site, 35% ignored the material, and only 11% informed their parents or caregivers. Alarmingly, a mere 9% reported it to the authorities.
The detrimental impact of viewing such content on the well-being of young people was also highlighted. The research showed that 69% believed it had a negative impact, and 44% reported a direct impact on their mental health.
Michal Karnibad, Co-CEO of VerifyMy, emphasized the urgency for action: Our young people can be exposed to age-inappropriate or even the most horrendous online content imaginable at the click of a button. Despite the efforts made by schools, parents, caregivers, and awareness days, our findings show that more needs to be done.
Karnibad called for businesses to engage and partner with subject matter experts, regulators, and safety tech providers to develop effective solutions for protecting young people online. He stressed the importance of robust content moderation technology to identify and remove illegal material before it is published. Additionally, age assurance technologies should be implemented to ensure that those accessing online platforms are the appropriate age and only see age-appropriate content.
The research was conducted on Safer Internet Day, an initiative that aims to promote better online safety practices. VerifyMy hopes that the findings will encourage businesses to enhance their age assurance and content moderation capabilities, including the adoption of privacy-preserving technologies such as email address age estimation.
In conclusion, the research conducted by VerifyMy highlights the concerning prevalence of harmful, age-restricted, and illegal content encountered by young people within minutes of going online. The findings underscore the urgent need for collaborative efforts between businesses, regulators, and safety tech providers to implement effective measures that protect young people from such content.
