ONE in four children have been contacted via social media by an adult they do not know, a new survey has found.
The survey of more than 2,000 children and 2,000 adults found that a third of children contacted were aged under 13.
Net Aware, a project by the NSPCC in partnership with O2, also asked children and parents if they had seen violent, bullying or adult content on social networking sites and games.
Facebook and YouTube were found most likely to have inappropriate content.
Other sites found to be risky included Twitter and Reddit.
Neil Anderson, head of NSPCC Northern Ireland, said children found it "extremely upsetting" to be contacted by adults they do not know on social media.
"In addition our research shows children are being exposed to inappropriate and harmful content across a range of social networking sites and games, from the big names to those perhaps lesser known to parents," he said.
"That's why it's so important for parents to download the Net Aware app so they can keep up to speed with new sites, apps and games as they appear and the risks they present.
"Net Aware does all the work, updating parents with the latest reviews, news and risks about sites their children are using and providing tips and advice to keep them safe online."
The Net Aware app can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store or Google Play. It can also be accessed online at www.net-aware.org.uk.
