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BRUSSELS — The EU says many children using social-networking sites don't use privacy settings, making them vulnerable to stalkers and other harassment.

EU data show that 77 per cent of the bloc's 13- to 16-year-olds have profiles on social networks, while among 9-to-12-year olds 38 per cent are on sites like Facebook or MySpace.

Twenty-five per cent of those children don't use privacy setting, and one-fifth of those with public profiles display their phone number or address.

The EU's Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes said , "These children are placing themselves in harm's way, vulnerable to stalkers and groomers."