Sixty-Two Percent of Kids Report Negative Online Experience, Report Says
RSSBy SLJ Staff
Almost two thirds of children around the globe have had a negative online experience-from downloading a virus to getting scammed-yet only 45 percent of parents realize this, says a new study from the Norton Family Online Report.
Researchers surveyed 2,800 kids and more than 7,000 adults in 14 countries about their online lives and experiences. They found that although parents are aware of the increased amount of time their kids spend on the Web and what they're doing online, caregivers underestimate the extent to which children download games, music, and video. And that's a problem because these activities are ways that kids are exposed to inappropriate content and are encouraged to disclose personal details.
Some 41 percent of kids surveyed said a stranger tried to add them as a friend on a social networking site, 33 percent said they've downloaded a virus; 25 percent reported seeing violent or nude images online: and 10 percent said a stranger they met online had tried to meet them in person.
"One of the most surprising insights from the report is parents' lack of awareness about the extent of children's negative experiences online," says the report, explaining that 62 percent of kids have had a negative online experience and feel an enormous sense of responsibility about it. "They report feelings of anger, being upset, and fear when they encounter an unpleasant situation."
The good news is that kids actually want their parents more involved in their online lives, with one in nine stating that they'd like to turn to their parents for support and advice when things go wrong. As a result, parents have an important role to play by increasing their understanding of the Internet, the role it plays in their kids' lives, and the experiences their children are having online. "Children need 'parenting' online as much as they do in their offline lives, and they would welcome more parental involvement," the report says.
Children understand the importance of ethical behavior and are setting their own rules for acceptable online behavior, the report adds. "Children's own rules include not bullying or harassing people online, not passing on embarrassing photos or posts about others, telling parents if they or others are being bullied, and not saying or doing things online that they wouldn't do in an offline world."
The study, serves as a reminder for parents to "plug in to their kids' online lives," especially now that they're spending an average of 10 percent more time online per month than last year. Norton, which is owned by Symantec, a provider of online security software, has spent the last three years examining the gaps between parents and kids when it comes to their online beliefs and behaviors. This year's report, however, looked at the emotional impact of online experiences on kids.
"This report provides a rare glimpse into the online lives of young people in many countries-in their own words," says Anne Collier, editor of NetFamilyNews.org and co-director of ConnectSafely.org, a site that focuses on the impact of the social Web on kids, both collaborators with Norton on the study. "Not only does it send a clear message that the online safety and security issues around parenting are universal, it offers insights and information that can empower parents worldwide to help kids use the Internet safely and keep family communication about technology open and ongoing."
In addition to talking to kids, keeping security software current, and using tools specifically designed for kids' safety, parents can improve children's online experiences by preparing them for good or bad experiences online; highlighting the importance of thinking before clicking and downloading; and letting them know that what happens to them online is a shared responsibility between parent and child.
The survey was conducted in 14 countries-Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States. Some 2,805 children between the ages of 8 and 17 were interviewed.
