Parents are rarely checking their children’s internet use at home, says a new survey by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), despite the fact that cyberbullying is increasing.

According to Joe Humphreys in today’s Irish Times, the survey revealed that there has been a drop in the frequency of how much parents check on their children’s internet use, with some responders to the survey saying their internet use is rarely or never supervised.

According to the Irish Times,
“The survey, conducted by Amárach Research for the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), found only 46 per cent of parents checked their child’s online behaviour weekly or more, compared with 54 per cent in 2014. Some 30 per cent of parents said they checked their child’s internet use less than once a month or never. This compared with 26 per cent in 2014.

In addition, students aged under 22 who were interviewed for the study reported having their online activity checked less frequently. Only 5 per cent said their activity was checked either weekly or more often, compared with 11 per cent in 2013.”

Despite the fact that parents have reduced, or are rarely, checking their children’s internet use, the rate of cyberbullying is, according to the research, increasing.


For more on cyberbullying and advice for parents and teens, please see our section on bullying.

Comments