New Poll Shows Even Kids Worried About Their Privacy Online

You wouldn't know it by looking at the average teenager's wall on Facebook, but teens are just as concerned as their parents when it comes to online privacy, a new poll has found. 79 percent of teens believe their friends share too much information online, and a majority want social networking sites required to get users to 'opt-in' before using their personal information. But parents haven't stopped worrying about their kids' safety either. Ninety-two percent of parents said they are concerned that children share too much information online, and 85 percent said they are more concerned about online privacy than they were five years ago. The findings were released last Friday by the non-profit group Common Sense Media as part of its "Protect Our Privacy - Protect Our Kids" campaign to help families protect their kids information online. The poll found parents are particularly concerned about the latest in social networking trends, geo-location services, such as Foursquare and Facebook's Places, which pinpoint someone's whereabouts. Ninety-one percent of parents said search engines and social networking sites should not be able to share the physical location of children with other companies until parents give authorization. The poll comes as social media pioneers like Facebook and Google face fire for their handling of users' privacy, and Congress debates how to handle the growing public discontent. If either group wants to keep their users' and constituents happy, they better act fast. More than 60 percent of the 2,100 parents surveyed want Congress to update online privacy laws for children and teenagers and 71 percent are not confident in social networking sites keeping their private information safe and secure. In launching the privacy campaign, Common Sense is also introducing what could be called the 21st century classroom, developing a privacy curriculum for educators. The consumer group is also targeting legislators and parents in hopes of beefing up security reform. On hand at the poll's release were heavy Administration hitters like FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and the group also plans to distribute consumer tips, information and videos for parents.

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New Poll Shows Even Kids Worried About Their Privacy Online

Katie Kindelan

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Katie Kindelan