Almost half of parents in the UK with access to home broadband admit to knowing less about the internet than their children, Ofcom has discovered.

The telecoms industry watchdog surveyed more than 2,000 over-16s and found 48 per cent of mothers and fathers believe they are less clued-up than their five to 15-year-old kids.

This figure rises to 70 per cent for parents whose children are aged between 12 and 15.

Researchers unearthed a growing trend for mums and dads to be less concerned with what their youngsters get up to online. Just 37 per cent of respondents said they had set up parental controls, down from 43 per cent in 2009.

Those who have no online filters in place largely explained their decision by saying they trust their kids or monitor them when they browse the web.

Ofcom's findings suggest parents may be right to place greater faith in their offspring, as the majority of youngsters polled acknowledged the importance of taking care on the internet.

Almost nine in ten 12 to 15-year-olds said they have become more careful about their online privacy.

More concerning is the fact that nearly a third of this age group who use social network sites such as Facebook and MySpace admit to speaking to friends of friends or people they do not know via the web.

And 22 per cent of youngsters in this demographic who use the internet at home would be happy to give out their email address online.

Earlier this year, BT launched its free Family Protection parental control service, designed to help keep children safe while they use a home broadband connection.

Jon Brown, head of strategy and development at children's charity the NSPCC, said: "The internet has huge educational and social benefits. Children are often expected to research their homework online, as well as entertain themselves and socialise.

"However, the risks to their privacy and safety are very real." 

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