A NEW website designed to help parents understand more about the social media apps their children use has been launched.

It comes as research suggests as many as 29 per cent of children aged between eight and 13 have given out personal details to people they have met online.

In the North West alone, more than a quarter of the 252 children surveyed admitted that they had disclosed personal information, such as home addresses and mobile phone numbers, to people they had never met.

The nationwide survey of 2,000 children, commissioned by O2, also revealed that social media profiles contained potentially sensitive information, with almost a quarter displaying their email addresses.

The survey results also showed that parents are more likely to talk to their children about safety in the real world versus the online world.

Ann Pickering, Chief HR Officer and Chief of Staff at O2, said:

“Apps and social media are a brilliant way of keeping in touch with friends and making you feel less alone, but it’s vital that parents understand and talk to their kids about the potential dangers too.

“We launched the Net Aware website with the NSPCC so that parents can learn about the latest social networks, sites and games, and we’re very proud to announce that we’ve now expanded the platform with even more up-to-date advice, information and top tips from our O2 Gurus.”