Children are "way ahead" of their parents when it comes to adopting new technology and should be warned about the dangers of the internet at a younger age, the Government's cyber safety tsar has said.
Baroness Shields, the former head of Facebook's Europe division, has warned children should be informed about cyber-bullying and grooming sooner.
Her remarks come as a YouGov poll revealed that 91% of youngsters are using the Internet at least once a week by the time they are eight-years-old - even though on average, parents usually only start to discuss online dangers with their children when they are nine.
She said: "Let's face the facts, just about the time you understand what apps they are using they say 'No, that's way gone mum. I'm on to something else'.
"Kids are constantly using this device to discover new things, which is actually brilliant and liberating and enlightening and exciting in terms of education and opportunities - but at the same time, they have got to tread carefully and parents need to know what it takes for them to tread carefully."
Claire Lilley, head of child safety for the NSPCC, believes parents should be talking to their children "as soon as they start using the devices".
The charity has formed a partnership with O2 to offer children an Internet safety helpline staffed by trained advisors, which can offer advice on the dangers of sites which endorse suicide, eating disorders and self-harm.
Baroness Shields added that although children need to be more aware of the risks associated with the Internet, they should still be able "to explore the Internet fearlessly" at a young age.
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