Dubit: Survey shows nearly half of British children under 12 are using Facebook

Nearly half of British children under the age of 12 are using the social network Facebook, a new survey says. Facebook requires members to be at least 13 to use the site. However, 44% of British children aged 8-12 ignore the age limit and log on to the popular social networking site. The new survey, conducted in the UK and the US, included 2,000 children aged between 6 and 14. The survey found that 44% of British children who do not meet Facebook's minimum age limit use the site. In the US, only 37% of children aged 8-12 regularly visit the site.

The findings, compiled by youth research company Dubit, also found that 58% of 12-year-olds in the UK and US have a Facebook account, while a further 23% of eight-year-olds regularly visit Facebook - with 10% of these first experiencing the social network through their parents' accounts.

The survey results come on Safer Internet Day, when internet companies and providers often introduce new measures to make children safer online. British telecoms company TalkTalk has announced that it is preparing to ask all parents to sign up for broadband services to protect their children from viewing inappropriate online content. British Prime Minister David Cameron has expressed strong support for any measures taken by internet companies to give parents real power to ensure their children are safe online.

The study also found that 66% of six-year-olds were aware of Facebook, and more than half (53%) of children surveyed said they would like to see a Facebook specifically for children so they could access the site legally.

Ian Douthwaite, CEO of Dubit, said: "This research is great news for Facebook as it means the company has an opportunity to grow its user base and legitimise these child users. It also explains the popularity of children's gaming sites such as Moshi Monsters and Bin Weevils. Our results show that gaming is one of the main reasons children log onto social networks. In the last month, 36% of children aged 6-14 have played a game on Facebook, highlighting the important role of gaming in attracting children to social networks."