Summary
Research has consistently shown that parents/grandparents find parenting technology use as one of the most difficult aspects of family life. With the massive change in children’s internet use post COVID-19, this difficulty has become even more pronounced. This project builds on the key message by the eSafety Youth Advisory council to develop a new approach to ‘family digital safety’ that is underpinned by the perspectives of children, to genuinely address their current uses/needs. This project created an evidence-based, holistic ‘Family Digital Safety’ resource that guides the safety of children 10 to 13 years, as newly independent Australian internet users.
Rationale
Given the intensity and range of children’s technology use, parents and grandparents cannot realistically be aware of, or understand the myriad of decisions children make every time they go online. This is particularly pertinent for children aged 10 -13 years, who are often beginning to use the internet more independent of adult guidance. COVID-19 and the increase in online learning and lifestyle dramatically amplified this. The question hence becomes: How do parents and grandparents meaningfully guide children’s decision making in these transition years when we are not fully aware of children’s digital practices and thinking and how it relates to safety needs?
A meaningful digitally safe home environment enables children to effectively control the risks of the internet, alongside capitalising on the benefits it provides. Post COVID-19 is a strategic and natural time of change for how online safety is supported in families, with an overwhelming message by the the eSafety Youth Advisory council being that the views of children are important. If we are to meaningfully guide children in their digital safety, understanding their experiences and perspectives will enable the insight parents and grandparents need to genuinely guide them in safe decisions online.
Methodology
This project focused on guiding the digital safety of children aged 10 – 13 years, who are transitioning to independent internet use. The aim of this project was to use the experiences, perspectives, and needs children of this age group identify, alongside those of parents and grandparents, to produce a holistic, evidence-based Family Digital Safety resource to meaningfully guide this age group’s complex online life post COVID-19.
Quantitative data from five hundred families with children 10-13 years was gathered to provide up-to-date evidence of the online experiences and decision-making of this age group, across all aspects of their home internet use. In addition, thirty two diverse families with children aged aged 10-13 years, participated in interviews in the family home (face-to-face or via video conference), with children, parents and grandparents interviewed separately to enable clearer insight into their experiences.
The outputs included a publishable report outlining the safety gaps for this age group, with the deliverables being three free online events, each with a particular generational focus (children, parents and grandparents), as well as this website.
Funding
