In conjunction with Safer Internet Day 2022 National Parents Council Primary (NPC), Webwise (the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre) and TU Dublin carried out a survey with over 1,000 parents, between Tuesday the 25th of January and Friday the 4th of February.

The survey addressed four main topics:

1. Concerns about online risks.
2. Appropriate age for social networking.
3. Strategies for parenting online.
4. Attitudes towards children’s internet use.

Concerns about online risks

• 72% of parents said they have had a conversation with their child about the internet.
• 41% said their child told them when they found something upsetting on the internet.

Appropriate age for social networking

• 47% of parents surveyed said that they would find it difficult to decide about permission to use social networking sites, apps and smart devices.
• When asked what age they believe their child is old enough to make up their mind about websites, social media, apps or online games, 37% of parents said 16 years of age while 10% said 18 years of age.
• 47% of parents surveyed said they would allow their child to make up their own mind about websites, social media, apps or online games, at an age younger than 16.  

Strategies for parenting online

• Almost two thirds of parents surveyed (64%) were not aware if anything had happened online that made their child feel uncomfortable or upset.
• Of the parents who were aware of something online making their child uncomfortable or upset, 59% said they were not sure how often this happened.
• 50% of parents stated that their child had been a bit, or very upset by what happened online.
• The survey also highlighted that many children who come across something that upsets them online, inform their parents. 80% of parents who took part in the survey said their child came to them when an issue occurred.
• 77% of parents surveyed believe they could help their child, if they got upset by something they have seen online.
• Only 26% of parents surveyed were of the belief their child could cope if they saw something that upset them online.

Attitudes towards children’s internet use.

• 43% of parents surveyed said they sometimes forbid their children access to the internet. Interestingly the survey also highlighted that 64% of parents surveyed were unsure how often teachers restrict their child’s internet access, while in school.
• Over half of the parents surveyed (56%) said their child has been asked to make an in-app purchase while playing an online game.