Study: Children prefer Internet for advice ‘than talking to their parents’
Children now go online to seek advice on the Internet rather than speaking to their parents, a new report form Kaspersky has revealed.
In its ‘Growing up Online’ global study, Kaspersky Lab found that one fifth of parents (21%) and children (22%) say that the Internet can cause family tension, and one-in-three (31%) of parents believe the Internet isolates them from their children.
“Previously, parents might have been the first source for children seeking answers to questions, but 64% feel they are now no longer the primary contact point for their children and 23% of parents admitted that their kids now prefer to go online rather than talk to them for advice”, according to report.
Kaspersky: Children now prefer to go online for advice than talking to their parents
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In its ‘Growing up Online’ global study, Kaspersky Lab found that one fifth of parents (21%) and children (22%) say that the Internet can cause family tension, and one-in-three (31%) of parents believe the Internet isolates them from their children.The survey study, which looked into the behaviours of children online, provides a glimpse into how the digital world is affecting family dynamics.
“In addition to a feeling of separation caused by the Internet, families see an impact of connected devices on family dynamics as well. A third of parents (31%) criticised that their child has broken something on a connected device or infected it with a virus while online (30%) and a quarter (24%) has had to pay for something their child had ordered or downloaded,” it further states.
When it comes to connecting on social media, 58% of parents are friends with their children on social media platforms, according to the report findings.
Andrei Mochola, Head of Consumer Business at Kaspersky Lab said: “It is only natural that using – and misusing – each other’s connected devices can become a cause of conflict for families. However, as we spend more and more time online, family dynamics are also changing.”
Giving advice on the issue, Mochola said “it is important that families maintain an ongoing dialogue about how to spot and respond to potential dangers, with parents and children together agreeing on the basic rules on how they can best navigate the digital world.”
“It is also important to be serious about protection. We recommend installing an integrated home Internet security solution on all devices in the home. This should be enhanced with Parental Control software, which can block access to inappropriate sites or apps and prevent sensitive data from being shared or deleted,” Mochola further advised.
