Children in China are more likely to be exposed to inappropriate online materials than their foreign peers.

China Daily reports that the U.S. software maker Symantec Corp has recently conducted a survey. According to the survey results, about half of the children between the ages of eight and 17 in China have received improper content via the Internet, a higher rate than in other countries.

Liu Bin, the Internet research director of China Internet Network Information Center, attributes the findings in part to the disproportionately large number of users who go online primarily at Internet cafes, rather than at home.

He says the lack of proper protection systems, particularly in Internet cafes in rural areas, increases the chances of children being exposed to questionable Internet content.

China Daily cites suggestions that parental control software, which is currently gaining popularity, is conducive to eliminating the threat. In addition, parents should fully assess the potential harm of these materials.