Internet access by minors at home: Usage norms imposed by parents

Abstract

RESUMENEste artículo analiza el establecimiento de normas por parte de los progenitores a sus hijos sobre la utilización de Internet en los hogares. Los datos se han obtenido mediante encuestación sobre una muestra representativa de los menores de las Islas Baleares de entre 6 y 16 años, habiéndose analizado las siguientes dimensiones: acceso de los menores a Internet desde el hogar; grado de autonomía o acompañamiento en la navegación; normativización impuesta en el hogar por parte de sus padres y madres; tipos de normas impuestas; relación entre normas y género; valoración de los menores de los conocimientos y habilidades de sus progenitores para navegar por Internet y, finalmente, el acompañamiento de los padres y madres a la hora de navegar por Internet. Se constata que poco más del 53% de los menores de entre 6 y 14 años, y del 62% de los de 15 y 16 años navegan a través de Internet sin que sus progenitores les establezcan limitaciones. Cuando establecen algún tipo de normas, éstas se refieren, principalmente, a restricciones de carácter temporal. Por tanto, se infiere que los padres y madres no son conscientes de los peligros de la Red o que, al menos, actúan de forma poco razonable. Ello muestra la necesidad de sensibilizar y formar a las familias para que asuman su responsabilidad educativa. ABSTRACT This paper examines and discusses the rules and standards set by parents for their children on Internet usage at home. Data that supports the paper have been obtained by surveying a representative sample of children in the Balearic Islands aged between 6 and 16 years; the analysis dimensions are: access by minors to the Internet from home; location of the computer from which have online access; level of autonomy or accompaniment while surfing the Net; norms imposed by their parents; types of rules imposed; relationship between norms and gender; the minors' opinion and assessment of the knowledge and abilities of their parents on use of the Internet and, finally, the accompanying strategies of parents when their children access the Internet. The main results shows that just over 53% of minors between 6 and 14, and 62% of those between 15 and 16, surf the Internet without their parents' presence and free of any norms and/or limitations. Where standards are established, these are mainly to do with temporary restrictions. Therefore, it appears that parents are unaware of the dangers of the Internet or at least act irrationally. This shows the need for awareness and provision of skills, knowledge and abilities to enable parents to assume their responsibilities in the Internet usage of minors. PALABRAS CLAVE / KEY WORDSUso de Internet, menores, control parental, TIC, jóvenes, educación en medios.

Personality and Social Context Factors Associated to Self-Reported Excessive Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on a Sample of Spanish Adolescents

“…58.1 % of participants said there were no rules regarding ICT use. This percentage is similar to that of other research, which places it between 53% and 62% depending on the child’s age (Sureda et al, 2010). As family mediation is a determining factor in children’s ICT use and a lack of supervision is linked to addictive behavior (Chang et al, 2015), rules regarding ICT use should be promoted.…”

“…Following Gómez et al (2017), it is necessary to include the immediate social context, family and educators, in the interventions to promote responsible use. Our intervention proposal coincide with Sureda et al (2010), showing the need for awareness and provision of knowledge and skills to engage parents to assume their responsibilities in the use of ICT of adolescents. Psychoeducation program which include specific actions to: a) promote adolescents’ self-conscientiousness of the time spent on ICT use, 2) show the risks of excessive use of ICT, 3) engage parents and educators to work together to promote responsible use among adolescents, 4) emphasize the importance of rules and standards set, not only with temporary restrictions, and the participations of the adolescents in the decision of these rules.…”

“…As family mediation is a determining factor in children’s ICT use and a lack of supervision is linked to addictive behavior (Chang et al, 2015), rules regarding ICT use should be promoted. In order to achieve greater parental involvement in establishing such rules, we believe that parents need to be made more media literate, as has been highlighted in earlier research (Sureda et al, 2010). The results obtained regarding perception of ICT use among parents and siblings show that adolescents who form part of the group of excessive users perceive their parents to be higher consumers of ICTs than those of the other group.…”

“…Family communication, parental control and supervision of online behavior have been considered to be protective factors against Internet addiction, along with family cohesion (Lin et al, 2009). Nonetheless, some research shows that 62% of those aged 15 and 16, surf the Internet without their parents having set limits (Sureda et al, 2010). Families play an important role in fomenting the opportunities that ICTs offer and minimizing their risks.…”

“…Although parental mediation of ICTs reduces the risk of developing addictive and risk behaviors (Chang et al, 2015), the lack of awareness shown by some parents regarding the risks associated with excessive ICT use, along with a lack of supervision, lead to unlimited access and greater frequency of use and have been linked to irresponsible use and addictive behavior. Sureda et al (2010) concluded that parents needed to be made media literate, this would provide them with the knowledge needed to accompany their children in responsible use. According to Mayorgas (2009), giving children an example of healthy behavior promotes responsible behavior, which in turn counteracts addictive behavior.…”