Better Internet for Kids

A study was carried out by the Centre for Social Informatics at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, in the summer of 2007. It revealed that Slovenian parents significantly underestimate the impact of harmful online content and experiences on their children.

According to the study, only 4 per cent of parents or guardians agreed that their child was too influenced by online pornography. However, a study conducted among teenagers by the awareness centre Safe.si showed that, among those who watch pornography, 14 per cent of primary school students and 8 per cent of secondary school students experience negative feelings related to sexuality (such as fear or disgust). More than a tenth of young people (13 per cent in primary school and 12 per cent in secondary school) reported negative effects from viewing pornography, while 10 per cent in primary school and 15 per cent in secondary school felt addicted. Among frequent viewers of pornography, 21 per cent in primary schools and 15 per cent in secondary schools believe that violence is a normal part of sexuality. These percentages are much lower among young people who do not watch pornography (4 per cent in primary school and 5 per cent in secondary school). Among secondary school students who frequently watch pornography, 27 per cent think that men should be dominant and aggressive in sexual encounters, while women should enjoy it being this way. Among those who do not watch pornography, however, this percentage is more than five times lower (5 per cent).

Parents are also unaware of the risks their children face online, or their children do not disclose these risks to them. When the percentages reported by parents are compared with data from the Safe.si surveys of children, it is clear that parents significantly underestimate the risks their children face online. For example, only 3 per cent of parents or guardians of 13 to15 year olds reported that their child had received unwanted sexual content or comments online. However, more than a third of children in the same age group reported receiving sexual or inappropriate content such as explicit pictures or messages. Only 1 per cent of parents or guardians reported that their child had voluntarily sent their own naked photos online. In contrast, a survey of young people found that 16 per cent of secondary school students ((10 per cent of female secondary school students and 4 per cent of male students). had taken and shared nude or explicit photos or videos online.

While the percentages of parents or guardians reporting their child as a victim or perpetrator of online violence range from 0 per cent to 10 per cent, the percentages reported by children themselves are at least three to 24 times higher. Parents are also least likely to know that their children have been victims of online blackmail, threats, image manipulation and sharing of explicit content.

It is unusual that parents or guardians of the youngest children, aged 0 to 5, are most concerned about their child not getting enough sleep because of internet use. However, this concern decreases with the age of the child. In contrast, the Safe.si SID 2022 survey of adolescents shows that as children get older, the proportion reporting insufficient sleep due to phone, app and social media use increases. From year seven of primary school to secondary school, the percentages rise from 37 per cent to 64 per cent.

Among the risks identified in the study, parents or guardians are most concerned (60 per cent) about their child falling victim to online grooming. Overall, mothers are more concerned about online risks than fathers, and the least educated parents are the most concerned. Parental concern

decreases with the age of the child, although the risks identified in the study are more likely to occur among older children than among younger ones.

Many children use the internet and screen devices excessively

Parents were asked about the average daily time their child spent on the internet, computer, mobile phone, and tablet. Their answers were compared with the recommendations of Slovenian paediatricians regarding acceptable screen time for children that is not harmful to their development. It was found that many parents reported excessive use of these devices by their children - over 40 per cent of parents or guardians of children aged from 10 to 17 years and 48 per cent of parents of children aged from 13 to 15 years. Excessive use was also reported by 14 per cent of parents of infants aged 0 to 2 years and 10 per cent of parents of children aged 3 to 9 years. Recommended screen time includes all screen devices, including televisions, which were not asked about in the parent survey. This means that the percentages of excessive use can be even higher than reported.

In addition, the proportion of parents who set rules for their children's use of mobile phones, tablets, computers, or similar devices is decreasing. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of parents or guardians do not set any rules, which is twice as many as two years ago. The proportion of parents who do not allow their child to use social networking sites has also gone down from 58 per cent in 2021 to 46 per cent in the most recent study.

Find more information about the work of the Slovenian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.