Parents are worried about what children are seeing and hearing online as it is difficult to compete with the development of social media, data shows.
An Ipsos survey of 622 parents found 350 said they are fairly confident in knowing what their children are doing online and 71 are not.
Fears of a child’s use of social media is rising as some believe an increase in the use of technology can separate parents from their children.
Content creator and step-parent Angie Monroe, 44, said: “With the speed technology is moving in, parents do not have the time to keep up with that.
“They don’t have the time to invest in understanding how technology works.
“So therefore, it’s almost like the children and the parents are talking a completely different language.
“As the child may be so advanced in technology, they could outsmart the parents.”
A further 189 parents said they were very confident in knowing what their children are seeing and hearing online, but some believe this is due to parents not realising how advanced technology is.
Monroe is in no doubt that if parents do not become tech-savy, they will be separated from their children due to a lack of understanding of technology.
The step-mother to two said: “I think they should be absolutely worried about the internet and the way technology is moving.
“It’s rapid and I think there is a massive, massive concern for parents in this day and age. I think it’s quite crucial at the moment.
“I think the percentage of parents that were confident are living in LaLa land because I promise you, they don’t [know what their children are seeing online].”
She described the confidence voting as shocking, as parents assume that children do not know as much as they do.
Monroe explained she treats her step-children with more respect and is balanced in her approach, with uses of open communication.
The children, who are 12 and 18, display vulnerability to Monroe as her comfortability with technology means she is kept up to date with the trends and conversations amongst young people.
She believes she keeps this relationship healthy by being friendly, but setting boundaries.
The data suggestsparents are becoming less confident in what their children are seeing and hearing online as the level of technology currently used is completely different to what was used 10 years ago.
Parents need to be more aware of a number of apps suchs as TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, Snapchat and with the commitment of running a home, it can some times become too much.
Monroe said: “I think it comes down to educating themselves on the level of the child and what it is that interests them, what it is that they are doing and communicate that with them.
“I think, at the moment, there is a massive lack of communication between parents and children.
“Parents need to be accountable in learning how quickly the world is moving, how quickly social media is moving.”
The concern among parents is children are becoming robotic, as exposure to the world through social media is creating a lack of empathy and compassion.
Monroe said: “If children lose empathy and feelings that will impact the parent-child relationship and that’s why communication is key.”
Feature image: Free to use from Unsplash
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