Kids Online

Parent views and information needs

90% of parents say their child benefits from being online. These parents see the benefits as being:

• 73% School work
• 63% Finding information
• 50% Entertainment
• 47% Technology proficiency
• 30% Feeling closer to friends & family
• 20% Problem-solving skills
• 18% Creativity

60% of parents say their child is exposed to risks from being online. They see the risks as:

• 60% Accessing inappropriate content
• 50% Contact with strangers
• 42% Excessive use
• 36% Reduced fitness
• 35% Sharing personal information
• 29% Being bullied online
• 22% Feeling isolated
• 20% Negative self-image
• 6% Viruses, scams & fraud

55% of parent can see both the benefits and risks of their child being online

66% of parents are confident in their ability to protect their child online

38% of parents needs information about online safety. The information they want:

• 71% Dealing with negative online incidents
• 50% Online stranger danger
• 37% Images going viral
• 34% Online fraud
• 28% Other parents experiences

29% of parents needs information about appropriate internet usage for children. They want information about:

• 52% Managing what their child does online
• 49% Managing time online
• 49% Guidelines for online time
• 48% Age appropriate apps or websites

27% of parents sought or received information about children’s online safety in the 12 months to June 2016. These are the sources used:

• 63% School
• 36% Family/friends & other parents
• 36% Online search engines
• 25% Government organisations
• 19% My child
• 19% News media
• 16% Social media companies
• 15% Non-government organisations
• 17% Other organisations including

 

Source: Survey commissioned by the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner, June 2016, of 2360 parents in Australia with children aged 8 to 17 years old who access the internet.