At least one in five Irish children aged between nine and 16 is likely to encounter negative content online, including content related to self-harm, suicide, drug taking and pro-anorexia, a new study has revealed.

The Net Children Go Mobile study, which is co-funded by the EU, looked at children's use of the internet in five European countries, including Ireland.

It revealed that the most common way that Irish children and teenagers access the internet is via their smartphone. Tablets and laptops are also popular options.

The study found that 21% of young people were likely to come across negative user generated content online, 21% reported seeing sexual images, while 22% admitted to being contacted via the internet by people they had never met face to face.

"This report confirms the very real concerns of many Irish parents regarding the potential access for young and curious minds to a whole range of inappropriate material online, as well as the risks arising from contact online with strangers," commented Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald.

Meanwhile, 5% of those aged nine to 16 said they had been bullied on a social media website. This figure rose to 13% among those aged 13 and 14.

The NetChildren Go Mobile project was also carried out in the UK, Italy, Denmark and Romania. According to project head, Giovanna Mascheroni, exposure to online risks ‘appear greater among children who also use mobile devices to go online when compared to the 2010 EU Kids Online data'.

"As children go online more in a variety of contexts and from a wider range of devices, they also encounter more risks," he said.