Lisa Cornish, Rosie Squires and Callie Watson
October 31, 2012
adelaidenow
CHILDREN as young as five years old are using the internet for online shopping.
New ABS statistics show that, of the 2.5 million children aged 5 to 14 online, 162,800 use the net for shopping – a 22 per cent increase since 2009.
Experts say the trend is “concerning” as children could buy products unsupervised.
According to the latest ABS report, Children’s Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, more than 14,500 children aged 5-8 are using eBay and other sites.
Some 40,000 children aged 9-11 and 107,500 aged 12-14 shop online.
Child and adolescent physiologist Tena Davies, who works in the area of cyber safety, says the number using the internet for shopping is a worry.
“They could be putting those credit card details anywhere. It puts you at risk for unwanted and unsupervised purchases.”
The survey also found one in four children under the age of 14 own a mobile phone and more than 25,000 in the 5-8 bracket have their own mobile – a 14 per cent jump since 2009.
Adelaide mum of three Kathryn Vassallo uses her phone to help entertain children Ruby, 7, Max, 5, and Eden, 3. “They love to use it to take photos and video footage,” she said.
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