Internet safety fears grow among parents

Ninety per cent of US parents or legal guardians of children aged 8-18 believe they should bear the brunt of responsibility for ensuring children have a safe online experience, according to new research.

However, only 34 per cent of parents or guardians consider themselves "very knowledgeable" about how to educate their children to use the internet safely and responsibly.

A national poll commissioned by education organisation Cable in the Classroom found that 71 per cent of parents also think a major portion of the responsibility for ensuring children's safety on the internet falls to schools.

A number of parents have taken some steps to ensure their children's safe and responsible use of the internet, including talking to them about how to use the internet (88 per cent), monitoring online activities (82 per cent), confining home internet use to the living room or other open spaces (75 per cent), setting time limits on their use of the internet (74 per cent), and installing software to limit or block their child's online activities (55 per cent).

"Parents want to take primary responsibility for guiding their kids' use of the internet," said Douglas Levin, senior director of education policy for Cable in the Classroom.

"Yet, as the internet continues to change and evolve, most parents don't feel very knowledgeable about how to ensure children's internet safety and are looking for schools to help."