Parents urged to monitor children's surfing

Parents are too trustful of their children when it comes to safe internet use, according to new research from BroadbandChoices.

The broadband comparison service found in a recent survey that 84 per cent of UK parents rate 'verbal agreement' with their children on safe internet use as their number one means of monitoring online activity.

This comes in the wake of a worrying government report suggeting that one in four children has put themselves in potential danger by secretly meeting strangers they have contacted online.

"It is surprising that so many people rely heavily on their child doing what they ask. It is not going to happen in most cases and the government's research proves this," said Michael Phillips, product director at BroadbandChoices.

"However, there are a few simple steps parents can take to bolster protection for their child when online.

"Rather than relying on a single approach, they should use parental control and security software, combined with education, to stop inappropriate material, and people, reaching their child."

The survey found that 63 per cent of parents use parental control software, 62 per cent restrict the amount of time children spend online, and 59 per cent manually check the computer to monitor online activity.

The poll also asked children aged 11-16 to list their online activities during the school holidays.

The most popular activities were downloading music and photos (48 per cent), joining in with chat rooms and making new friends (45 per cent) and using social networking sites (40 per cent).

"The wide availability of the internet has made 'stranger danger' omnipresent," said Phillips.

"Parents need to be made more aware of the simple checks they could put in place to safeguard children who are increasingly using the internet to build new relationships."

Phillips also warned that a child's online activities could land parents a bigger bill at the end of the month.

"With 48 per cent of children regularly downloading from the internet, usage allowances could easily be exceeded and parents could find themselves out of pocket at the end of the month if they are not able to monitor it," he said.

The report offers five tips to help concerned parents monitor and protect their children online:

1. Using parental control software.

2. Educating children on why they need to be careful on the internet.

3. Keeping the family computer in the living room.

4. Using antivirus and firewall software.

5. Monitoring downloads and setting alarms when limits are neared.