Australian parents have supported the country’s under-16 social media ban, even as most surveyed parents use social media daily, this is according to a new research.
The study, conducted by Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Playgroup WA in Western Australia (WA), surveyed 726 parents of children aged between zero and eight years on their social media use and its impact on parenting, according to an ECU statement on Thursday.
The report finds that social media is deeply embedded in family life, with parents relying on it daily for information, support and connection, while increasingly recognising the risks it poses and supporting stronger protections for children online.
Of the 92 per cent of respondents who use social media, 96 per cent say they use it daily, while 99 per cent access it through mobile phones.
The study also finds that 44 per cent of parents believe social media has a somewhat or extremely negative impact on their lives, compared with 22 per cent who report a positive impact.
Parents cite concerns about children’s vulnerability, brain development, bullying, addiction and online predators as reasons for supporting delayed access to social media.
Nearly half of the respondents say children should be at least 16 before having an internet-enabled smartphone, according to the report.
Catherine Archer, a Senior Lecturer at ECU who conducted the research, says the findings highlight a striking contrast between parents’ own social media habits and what they want for their children.
“The same experience that makes social media useful for parents also appears to make them more aware of the risks it can pose to children,” Archer says.
However, the study finds that 67 per cent of parents report posting photos of their children online in spite of concerns about children’s privacy.
The findings suggest that while parents continue to rely heavily on social media in their own lives, they are increasingly concerned about its potential effects on children and support measures aimed at limiting young people’s exposure to online risks.
(Xinhua/NAN)
