Connected Parent

Kids Online: Do You Have a Clue?

By Dave Rogers - Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:18pm PDT
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As a former child, you probably remember not telling your parents about every detail of your life. That communication gap is as old as time—but it appears that today's technology has widened that gap into a chasm.

An overstatement? Not according to the findings of Symantec's first Norton Online Living Report (conducted by Harris Interactive). How does your view of your kids' online lives compare to results like these?

U.S. parents believe their children spend about two hours each month online. The kids report spending ten times that amount—20 hours!

Parents in the U.S. believe that only 6% of children have been approached online by a stranger. But 16% of kids report being approached.

Only 9% of U.S. parents believe their kids have received online requests for personal information. But four in ten U.S. teens aged 13-17 have had such requests.

About two percent of U.S. parents believe their children encounter cyber-pranks online, while 13% of kids report such experiences.

Twenty-one percent of U.S. parents don't know what their kids are looking at online. Meanwhile, 19% percent of kids report doing things online that would meet parental disapproval.

Only 48% of U.S. parents use parental control software on their computers. Fewer than one third spy on their children's Internet use.

“Parents are in the dark when it comes to knowing what their kids are doing online," says Marion Merritt, Symantec's Internet Safety Advocate. "They don’t have a clue how much time their kids are spending online. They don’t know where their kids are going when they are online. And, they certainly don’t know who their kids are talking to online." Visit here for more details on the Norton Online Living Report.

What can you do to bridge the digital divide in your family? A great place to begin is the Online Safety section here in Yahoo! Kids Parents. We've collected dozens of resources from leading Internet safety organizations that can help you protect your 21st century kids. Check it out!

Related: online safety, research

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Posted by Anoop J. Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:08pm PDT

I agree!

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Posted by Jesse Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:54am PDT

Great article!

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Posted by Courtney Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:33pm PDT

Totally!

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Posted by fan Sun Jun 29, 2008 1:27pm PDT

Useful article. The disparity between the amount of time parents think their children spent online compared to the time kids report they are online is incredible.

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Posted by tylercrg Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:54pm PDT

article was great i enjoyed it

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Posted by Yahoo Buzzer Tue Jul 8, 2008 11:02am PDT

http://www.gomestic.com/Family/My-Absolute-Favorite-Parenting-Websites.161149 Best articles for parenting today.

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Posted by Yahoo Buzzer Tue Jul 8, 2008 11:05am PDT

online bullies: http://www.webupon.com/Web-Talk/What-Every-Parent-Must-Know-About-Cyber-Bullying.122324

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Posted by bubbapierce21 Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:05pm PDT

I found a game site that is safe for all children. I even play it as well. It is called marapets Your child can have their own pet,name it,house it,feed it, and love it. The things you can do on the site are endless. Here is the link www.marapets.com/refer.php?id=mom2kirkir It is free and secure.

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Posted by Sami Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:49pm PDT

I think that spying on your kids online is mean, stupid, and an invasion of privacy! Kids are starting to think that that nice old Neopets thing is boring! MySpace is the new thing. I'd keep your kids away from MySpace as long as possible. Infact MySpace is blocked from our house. I also wouldn't suggest online Bebo, Flixster or any other website like that. But I would reccomend some website like Gaia Online where you can talk to people but it doesn't ask for pictures and such.

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Posted by texasbth@sbcglobal.net Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:11pm PDT

i think u shouldnt like peek on the screen to see what there doing that would ruin your trust ith you child u should just limit and monitor wat sites they are currently on without telling them so there safe andyu relationship with your child is not ruined

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