Snapshot
Only 54% of parents of teens use safety measures such as parental controls, other means of filtering or tools to monitor online activities in the US. When looking at mobile phones only 34% of parents use parental controls to restrict their child’s activities on a mobile phone (including feature phones and smartphones like iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone).

 

Key Points

  • Most parents in the United States are actively having discussions about mobile phone, Internet and technology safety with their teen children. However when teens and parents were asked about the mobile and online safety discussions more parents then teens reported this had occurred.
      • 94% of parents said they had conversations with their teens about what should and should not be shared on a mobile phone. Only 88% of teens said that this occurred.
      • 93% of parents reported they discussed how to use the Internet and mobile phones safely. Only 85% of teens said that this occurred.

 

Parents and teens discuss internet and mobile phone safety

 

  • 80% of parents that are on a social network and also have their kids on (a social network) have friended their children.
  • 77% of parents check what websites their teens visit. This is a 12% increase from 2011.
  • 66% of parents have checked to see what information is available about their child online.
  • When parents were asked what concerned them the most about mobile phone and Internet safety 47% said it was related to inappropriate content.
    • 45% said they were very concerned about how their teen is treated and how they treat others on mobile phones and online.
    • 31% were very concerned about spending less face to face time with their children due to online and mobile phone activity.

 

advice on mobile phone safety from other people teens

 

  • When teens were asked who influenced them the most when it came to mobile phone activities, parents topped the list at 58%, followed by friends at 18% and siblings at 11%.
  • Teens were asked who else gave them advice on using mobile phone’s responsibly, after parents, teachers at 70% and media (TV, radio, newspaper) at 54%.

 

Parents concerns about their teens online and mobile phone activity.

 

 

Source Pew Internet (December 5, 2011)

Reference Pew Internet

Image The Covenant By Shavar Ross

 

 

 

Print Friendly