A recent Australian study suggests that many kids don’t understand the legal risks of social networking sites such as Facebook. Thirty percent of Victoria, Australia middle-grade children surveyed did not believe there was any legal liability associated with social media sites. Legal risks include potential defamation and harassment, among others.
With more than 93 percent of kids regularly using Facebook, and 73 percent of students surveyed reporting “unwelcome” contact by strangers through social networking sites, researchers recommend integrating social media education into school curricula.
“Little attention has been given to the potential legal risks that children and young people may face when using social networking sites,” said Dr. Michael Henderson, a co-author of the study.
You can read the full report here.