A recent survey shows that parents feel it is their responsibility to safeguard their children from the dangers of the internet but are unsure how to do so. The study, conducted by Startpage, which is considered the world’s most private search engine, surveyed 1,000 parents in the United States with young children between five and sixteen.

The survey revealed that 98% of parents are concerned about their children’s privacy online, yet 68% stated that they didn't have the skills needed to protect their children’s privacy online. Most parents feared that their children would be contacted by strangers on the web, yet few were aware of other hidden dangers, such as cybercrime and commercial exploitation.

According to the study, 36% of parents didn’t know corporations could exploit their children’s data for commercial gain; 33% didn’t know companies could target their children with inappropriate ads by using their digital footprint, and 39% were unaware cybercriminals could sell their children’s information on the dark web.

Part of the problem is the result of using the internet trustingly and sharing personal data unknowingly. For example, half of all parents recognize they use non-private search engines to look up their children's health symptoms or conditions.

“With awareness building, people are increasingly making changes to their daily online routines to protect themselves. Parents, myself included, deserve simple and easy-to-implement privacy tools to protect their children,” said Robert E.G. Beens, CEO of Startpage.

Non-private search engines and social media platforms exploit children’s online data daily. By using tracking cookies, a harmless inquiry on a non-private search engine reveals vast amounts of information about children to advertisers, which then results in retargeted ads. An example of the access that companies have to personal data is demonstrated by the auto-complete function on non-private search engines.

Although parents do take steps to protect their children’s online privacy, these measures are often insufficient. For example, 58% of parents make an effort to restrict their children’s access to laptops, tablets and smartphones; 69% attempt to update browser security safeguards and content filters for language, nudity, sex and violence, and 47% would install a private search engine to limit their children’s digital footprints.

“We don’t believe in restricting people when it comes to privacy; young people will tend to find a way to do what they please regardless. For Startpage, it’s about creating choice and tools to empower anyone to take back control of their data. A simple fix to decrease children’s digital profiles is defaulting to private search. Installing a private search engine extension takes seconds and is an effective solution for search,” Beens said.

RELATED: Internet Safety Instructions Every Child Should Know

Startpage, which was founded in the Netherlands in 2006, doesn’t track, log, share or sell user data or search history. Instead, it offers an exclusive feature, known as “anonymous view,” which enables users to browse other websites without being tracked. To find out more about how to install the Startpage browser extension or how to set up Startpage as your default homepage, visit www.startpage.com.