Parental Control Software Research Articles

Exploring the Impacts of Internet and Social Media Exposure on Children: A Survey-Based Analysis

For the reason of the widespread of technologies in daily life, the rising rate of internet and social media usage among children has emerged as an important area of research. The purpose of this study is to enhance our knowledge of the impact of unsupervised internet and social media use on children's development and well-being. Data was collected via an online questionnaire divided into two sections. Section A dealt with demography, while Section B discussed the impact of the internet and social media on children. This study surveyed 36 parents to investigate their children's access to various internet information, its consequences on mental and physical health such as eye strain and sleep difficulties, and implications for academic achievement. According to the findings, unsupervised internet interaction can result in behavioural abnormalities in roughly 70% of cases, academic difficulties in around 30.6%, and health issues in about 58.3%. However, parents are using a variety of strategies to mitigate these risks. The survey reveals that 70% of respondents set limits on their children's gadget usage, while 22.2% utilize parental control software. These findings highlight the importance of taking proactive actions to overcome the issues posed by unsupervised digital interaction and create a safer and more beneficial online environment for children.

How Using Parental Control Software Can Enhance Parents’ Well-Being: The Role of Product Features on Parental Efficacy and Stress

Today, children's smartphone overuse and digital addiction are among parents’ top concerns. To address this issue, technology firms have developed services to help parents monitor their children's screen time. The literature on the impact of parental control tends to focus on the well-being of children, often overlooking the effects of parenting control on the well-being of parents themselves. This research investigates the psychological outcomes associated with delegating parental control to software. The authors conducted two surveys and three experiments among samples of parents in France and the United Kingdom. The results show that resorting to digitally assisted control improves anticipated well-being by decreasing role overload and increasing parental efficacy (Study 1). Moreover, product features play a critical role: software designs that promote children's autonomy (Study 2) or product autonomy (Study 3) tend to be less effective in improving parents’ anticipated well-being. Implications for technology companies are discussed.

Dečji podaci i onlajn privatnost - odrastanje u digitalnom dobu

Adolescents in the age of technology face a variety of security issues, but one of the most significant ones, that needs to be addressed by legislators, is privacy and data protection. Research has shown that children's rights, especially children's privacy, are regulated by a large number of international regulations. At the European level, both the European Union and the Council of Europe guarantee the rights to privacy and data protection. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act is the relevant act in the US. The most common violations of children's data and privacy have been found to be online data sharing and mobile application data collection practices. Children's privacy on the Internet can be improved by better communication between parents and children regarding Internet use, educating children about cyber security and online threats, using parental control software, installing antivirus programs on devices used by children and the like.

CHILD, FAMILY, SCHOOL IN THE INFORMATION SPACE

Relevance. In the modern world, information technology allows to create digital spaces for the child, parents and school. The issues of concern are how well protected a child’s world in the digital space is; how parents, children and educators interact in the digital world; how children are taught the basics of cybersecurity. Aim of the research is studying potential threats when using the Internet by a child, fi nding ways to ensure children’s safety. Research methods include a questionary and in-depth interviews. In the course of the study,  students from schools of Rostov-on-Don city were interviewed. Main results. Master students of the Southern Federal University conducted a study in which they tried to fi nd out the main risks and threats that may arise when using the Internet and considered offenses committed against adolescents on the Internet. The study revealed that  percent of schoolchildren do not know what to do and who to contact for help if they fi nd illegal or negative content on the Internet. The Internet and social media can pose risk to children, especially if they do not know how to use them properly and how to protect their personal information. There are many programs and tools that help to organize safe work of children on the Internet. These include Parental Control software, antiviruses software, Internet fi lters, mobile applications, monitoring tools that help parents track children’s Internet activities. However, only an open dialogue and frequent communication with children about their online activities can help parents and educators better understand the problems of the child and thus prevent possible risks. Conclusion. Teaching children how to use social media safely can help them avoid unwanted online situations. Involving children and adolescents in the study of problems related to cyber threats contributes to the development of their information culture.

Combating Adolescent Problematic Internet Use: Market Segmentation and Communication of Parental Control Software

Abstract: Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and issues attributed to misuse of social media platforms by adolescents have risen to become major concerns of parents worldwide. Prior research has provided a theoretical framework for understanding what drives parents to take action to mitigate PIU by adopting parental control software, but has been lacking in identifying who would be more or less likely to have such concerns and would be targets to adopt such software solutions. The study drew upon a broad national cross-sectional survey of 330 parents of children between the age of 10 and 15 in the United States. The survey was conducted via Qualtrics Panels during July 2020. To assess the potential for future segmentation-based strategy and marketing communications, the results for likelihood to subscribe and the amount willing to spend were assessed. The findings identify the prime targets of parental control software and marketing communications implications.

Parental supervision and control of adolescents’ problematic internet use: understanding and predicting adoption of parental control software

PurposeThis paper aims to identify the factors that motivate parents to adopt internet monitoring software (aka parental control software [PCS]) to curb problematic internet usage and safeguard their children online. By doing so, the authors are able to curb problematic internet usage and keep children safe online.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted using a representative sample of 330 parents in the USA with children ages 10 to 15. Results were analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsThis research combines two theories, namely, technology acceptance model (TAM) and protection motivation theory (PMT) to factors that motivate parents to adopt internet monitoring software to help their children. Perceived severity, perceived vulnerability from PMT and personal innovativeness (PI) from TAM, which is related to self-efficacy and the belief that future technologies will require less effort to adopt, are key factors that influence parents’ perceived usefulness of PCS. Perceived usefulness and PI both positively predict parents’ purchase intention for internet monitoring software.Practical implicationsThe study establishes that there are personal, technology and situational factors that motivate the adoption of PCS. These determinants have implications for how marketers identify potential users and how they might improve the promotion of internet monitoring technologies.Originality/valueThe paper extends the application of the technology acceptance model and PMT to predict technology adoption aimed at helping others. Findings show that personal and perceptual factors motivate parents’ adoption of internet monitoring software to curb problematic internet usage and keep children safe online. This paper is the first to combine the technology acceptance model and PMT to explain the adoption of software solutions to protect others online. By doing so, a more thorough account of parents’ technology adoption to protect their children is offered.

Automatic Content Inspection and Forensics for Children Android Apps

With the development of Internet and communication technologies, various information can easily spread to children via applications (Apps) on Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices (e.g., emerging smart toys, watches, and phones), especially, the Apps on smart phones based on Android. While greatly bringing up convenience for children’s lives and studies, these Apps also make illegal and inappropriate contents (such as violence, pornography, gambling, and drug) more accessible to kids, which is harmful to minors’ growth. To keep children away from inappropriate contents in applications, previous researches mainly focused on detecting unsuitable videos and advertisements in children applications or designing App maturity rating methods and parental control software. There are few literature that specially investigate the inspection of inappropriate contents in children Android Apps. Toward this end, we propose a novel automatic content inspection and the forensics framework to identify children Android Apps which are not proper for kids under 12. In addition, this framework offers evidence to make users understand why the inspected App is judged as unsuitable. In experiments, we apply this framework on some specially chosen Android Apps which distinctly include inappropriate contents to verify its performance. The results show that it can successfully identify those applications with high precision that reaches 85.7%. Besides, by analyzing the collected children’s Android Apps through our framework, we find that 40% of them are identified to be improper, which illustrates the serious issue of unsuitable children Android Apps.

Parental monitoring and children's internet use: The role of information, control, and cues

This paper explores the role of parental information and control on children's internet use in Chile. We designed and implemented a randomized experiment whereby 7700 parents were sent weekly SMSs messages that (i) provided specific information about their children's internet use, and/or (ii) offered assistance with the installation of parental control software. We find that providing parents with specific information changes parenting behavior and reduces children's internet use by 6–10%. Evidence from heterogeneity analysis and machine learning algorithms suggest that this information substitutes for the presence of parents at home and complements parents' capacity to be involved in their children's lives. We do not find significant impacts from helping parents directly control their children's internet access with parental control software. In addition, we find that the strength of the cue associated with receiving a message has a significant impact on internet use.

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE: ENSURING YOUTH SAFETY AND WELL-BEING ONLINE

The internet plays a crucial role in the daily lives of children and adolescents, offering vast opportunities for learning and socialization while simultaneously posing significant risks to their digital safety and well-being. To navigate this complex environment safely, a proactive approach emphasizing education, communication, and appropriate technologies is essential. Digital literacy is vital, informing youth about online dangers like cyberbullying and inappropriate content, while raising awareness about privacy and data security is crucial. Open dialogues between parents, educators, and young people can help identify issues early on and foster a supportive atmosphere. Adopting safety tools, such as parental control software, should complement broader strategies that prioritize dialogue and education. Furthermore, promoting digital well-being is equally important; encouraging youth to balance screen time with physical activities and real-world interactions contributes to their emotional and social development. Research by Medina and Todd (2017) reveals a shift in the online environment, necessitating a focus on the holistic intellectual and social well-being of young users. Additional studies indicate that marginalized youth face higher online risks and require targeted interventions to improve their digital literacy and safety strategies. Finally, the complexities of peer support in managing self-harm through social media highlight the need for a nuanced understanding of the digital landscape. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among stakeholders to ensure young people are equipped with the necessary skills and support to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Does Parental Control Work With Smartphone Addiction?: A Cross-Sectional Study of Children in South Korea.

The purposes of this study were to (a) examine the relationship between personal characteristics (age, gender), psychological factors (depression), and physical factors (sleep time) on smartphone addiction in children and (b) determine whether parental control is associated with a lower incidence of smartphone addiction. Data were collected from children aged 10-12 years (N = 208) by a self-report questionnaire in two elementary schools and were analyzed using t test, one-way analysis of variance, correlation, and multiple linear regression. Most of the participants (73.3%) owned a smartphone, and the percentage of risky smartphone users was 12%. The multiple linear regression model explained 25.4% (adjusted R = .239) of the variance in the smartphone addiction score (SAS). Three variables were significantly associated with the SAS (age, depression, and parental control), and three variables were excluded (gender, geographic region, and parental control software). Teens, aged 10-12 years, with higher depression scores had higher SASs. The more parental control perceived by the student, the higher the SAS. There was no significant relationship between parental control software and smartphone addiction. This is one of the first studies to examine smartphone addiction in teens. Control-oriented managing by parents of children's smartphone use is not very effective and may exacerbate smartphone addiction. Future research should identify additional strategies, beyond parental control software, that have the potential to prevent, reduce, and eliminate smartphone addiction.

Association of Maltreatment With High-Risk Internet Behaviors and Offline Encounters

High-risk Internet behaviors, including viewing sexually explicit content, provocative social networking profiles, and entertaining online sexual solicitations, were examined in a sample of maltreated and nonmaltreated adolescent girls aged 14 to 17 years. The impact of Internet behaviors on subsequent offline meetings was observed over 12 to 16 months. This study tested 2 main hypotheses: (1) maltreatment would be a unique contributor to high-risk Internet behaviors and (2) high-quality parenting would dampen adolescents' propensity to engage in high-risk Internet behaviors and to participate in offline meetings. Online and offline behaviors and parenting quality were gleaned from 251 adolescent girls, 130 of whom experienced substantiated maltreatment and 121 of whom were demographically matched comparison girls. Parents reported on adolescent behaviors and on the level of Internet monitoring in the home. Social networking profiles were objectively coded for provocative self-presentations. Offline meetings with persons first met online were assessed 12 to 16 months later. Thirty percent of adolescents reported having offline meetings. Maltreatment, adolescent behavioral problems, and low cognitive ability were uniquely associated with high-risk Internet behaviors. Exposure to sexual content, creating high-risk social networking profiles, and receiving online sexual solicitations were independent predictors of subsequent offline meetings. High-quality parenting and parental monitoring moderated the associations between adolescent risk factors and Internet behaviors, whereas use of parental control software did not. Treatment modalities for maltreated adolescents should be enhanced to include Internet safety literacy. Adolescents and parents should be aware of how online self-presentations and other Internet behaviors can increase vulnerability for Internet-initiated victimization.

Child Security in Cyberspace Through Moral Cognition

The increasing number of threats in cyberspace has meant that every internet user is at a greater risk than ever before. Children are no exception to this exploitation, incurring psychological and financial stress. Technology is on a persistent pursuit of offering exquisite solution to address the problems associated with children on the cyberspace. With every new product for parental control to secure children, comes a new technique to trespass the same. Consequently it summons an approach to look beyond technology; this paper aims to explore the relevance of moral cognition to decision making capability of children on the internet & the possibility of minimizing related risks using the observation. The authors establish a correlation between cognitive moral development and the cyber vulnerability level of children of age between 12 and 16 years, based on an empirical research using a comprehensive set of questionnaires and standard tests. The findings also paves path for future researchers to further analyze and implant features in the parental control software that would stimulate moral cognition, thereby redefining parental control software as parental care software.

Usos de Internet en hogares con niños de entre 4 y 18 años: control de los padres sobre este uso. Resultados de una encuesta nacional

Internet has become, since its beginning, the ideal media for information access. Children and adolescents use it frequently, and they usually reach inappropriate material, and their parents are not aware of this situation. The objective of the study was to evaluate the family perception of the use at home of the Internet by children and adolescents. A web survey coordinated by the Working Group of Medical Informatics at the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría was conducted between 09/01/2007 and 03/01/2008, and evaluated the household characteristics (number of children and their age) and their user internet profile. The survey was completed by 857 of the 1055 registered users. A total of 1380 children and adolescents were included, 83.5% were from Argentina. 25.8% of the children informed the adults about an unpleasant experience while using the web, 30.8% of the adults did not know their child's online nickname and only 28.6% used parental control software. 53.4% of the surveyed individuals reported talking with their children about their online activities. The results obtained from our survey show that children frequently have unpleasant experiences while using the web and there is very little supervision from parents, who underestimate the risk of the web access.

Internet security: Who is leaving the ‘virtual door’ open and why?

The purpose of the present paper is to study Chicago residents’ knowledge about Internet security and their utilization of prevention and detection tools. The results from hierarchical linear models suggest that there are significant gender, race, age, and community differences in knowledge about firewalls, spyware, phishing and data encryption, as well as the utilization of prevention and detection tools such as anti-virus programs, pop-up blockers and parental control software. Further, diffusion of innovation theory and utopian and dystopian perspectives toward technology help to explain some, but not all, of the variation in peoples’ knowledge about Internet threats and their use of security measures. These findings should help experts identify those people that may be more susceptible to cyber victimization, and highlight the importance of users’ behavior in the realm of Internet security.