Here are some scary figures, in an age where parents are constantly being reminded of the dangers of their kids going online without due education, controls or monitoring. The stats come courtesy of a recent study reported on Mail Online earlier this week.
One in four of the 2,000 five to 18 year-olds surveyed, have run up internet bills on Mum’s or Dad’s credit card or online accounts. More than a third of children said they know their parents let them play on the computer for a quiet life as it keeps them out of trouble. The typical child in the UK is just six years old when they start using their parents laptop, PC or tablet.
Children know their parents passwords
But perhaps the most disturbing, against a background when we’re constantly being told about keeping our passwords to ourselves:
- Eight out of every ten children know the password or PIN to their parents’ laptops, phones, tablets or PCs.
- One in ten said their parents constantly change their passwords so they can’t get access but 18% say that they look over their parent’s shoulder to find it.
Children are persistent
As any parent knows, children are persistent creatures, which is borne out in the study. 12% said they try various combinations until they succeed in gaining access to their parent’s online accounts. In many cases, of course, they get into trouble for trying this so many times that it locks down the account – even to Mum or Dad. Given that 25% of kids have run up internet bills on their parents’ credit cards, it’s probably safe to assume that many parents are not only revealing their passwords to their kids … they’re also letting them use their credit cards online.
Claire Perry is MP for Devizes Constituency and an online child safety champion. She told the Mail: ‘This survey certainly raises worries about how little parents may be aware of their child’s activity online. Keeping our personal information safe is a key lesson for children and adults alike. The recent explosion of technology means it can be very difficult to manage as a parent but we all have a responsibility to ensure children are safe and responsible online and parents need to play a big part in that.
She’s dead right
If you’re going to let kids as young as five (or six, seven, eight, whatever) loose on the internet, sit down with them first, teach them about what’s right and wrong, and tell them to come to you with any concerns. Also remember that there are lots of tools out there to help you give your kids a safe online experience. It’s not playing big brother, it’s being a responsible parent.
If your kids want to make purchases online and you’re happy for them to do this, sign up with a service like Virtual Piggy, a child-friendly payment portal.
You probably get enough unpleasant surprises on your monthly credit card bill as it is, so don’t add to the problem by letting your kids have your card details.
Conclusion
DON’T, DON’T, DON’T let your children have your passwords, whether you hand them to them on a plate or they’re trying to peer over your shoulder. If you do, they can see and do exactly what you can see and do.
You’re not alone; there’s lots of expert advice available on online safety, and specifically – on keeping kids safe online. Try clicking here as a starting point.
