Jehel, Sophie

The Weakness of Parental Internet Mediation and How It Affects Preteens - 2012.


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Preteens enjoy surfing the Internet. They are as enthusiastic as their parents are worried. Since they do not really know what practices they should encourage, parents often fail to educate their children about online media. The quality of parental mediation also depends on public regulations. Preteens are worried by their parents, but often alone when they have to make choices. The parents’ worry creates and strengthens irrational beliefs since it is not based on a complete understanding of digital environments. This paper is based on the results of a survey carried out in 2007 with 1,142 pupils—from 5th year in primary school and 1st year in high school—and 800 parents from five different regions. It also cites results of surveys on young people and the Internet conducted post-2007.