Volume index - Journal index - Article index - Map ---- Back

Comunicar Journal 34: Musics and screens (Vol. 17 - 2010)

Internet access by minors at home: Usage norms imposed by parents

https://doi.org/10.3916/C34-2010-03-13

Jaume Sureda-Negre

Ruben Comas-Forgas

Mercè Morey-López

Abstract

This paper examines and discusses the rules and standards set by parents for their children on Internet usage at home. Data that supports the paper have been obtained by surveying a representative sample of children in the Balearic Islands aged between 6 and 16 years; the analysis dimensions are: access by minors to the Internet from home; location of the computer from which have online access; level of autonomy or accompaniment while surfing the Net; norms imposed by their parents; types of rules imposed; relationship between norms and gender; the minors’ opinion and assessment of the knowledge and abilities of their parents on use of the Internet and, finally, the accompanying strategies of parents when their children access the Internet. The main results shows that just over 53% of minors between 6 and 14, and 62% of those between 15 and 16, surf the Internet without their parents’ presence and free of any norms and/or limitations. Where standards are established, these are mainly to do with temporary restrictions. Therefore, it appears that parents are unaware of the dangers of the Internet or at least act irrationally. This shows the need for awareness and provision of skills, knowledge and abilities to enable parents to assume their responsibilities in the Internet usage of minors.

Keywords

Internet usage, minors, parental control, ICT, youngsters, media literacy

PDF file in Spanish

References

AIMC (2008). Audiencia de Internet (Abril-mayo 2008). Madrid: Asociación para la Investigación de Medios de Comunicación (AIMC) (www.aimc.es/aimc.php?izq=audiencia.swf&op=dos&pag_html=si&dch=03internet/32.html) (25-02-09).

Camps, V. (2009). La educación en medios, más allá de la escuela. Comunicar, XVI (32); 139-145.

European Commission. (2006). Eurobarometer Survey on Safer Internet. Special Eurobarometer 250. Bruselas: European Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/docs/eurobarometer/eurobarometer_2005_25_ms.pdf) (20-02-09).

European Commission. (2007). Safer Internet for Children. Qualitative Study in 29 European Countries. National Analysis: Spain. Bruselas: European Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/docs/eurobarometer/qualitative_study_2007/spain.pdf) (12-02-09).

European Commission. (2008). Towards a Safer Use of the Internet for Children in the EU - a Parents' Perspective (flash eurobarometer 248). Bruselas: European Comission (http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_248_en.pdf) (13-02-09).

Fuenzalida, V. (2008). Cambios en la relación de los niños con la televisión. Comunicar, XV (30), 49-54.

Garitaonandia, C., & Garmendia, M. (2007). Cómo usan Internet los jóvenes: Hábitos, riesgos y control parental (www.ehu.es/eukidsonline/INFORME%20FINAL-INTERNET.pdf) (05-02-09).

Hasebrink, U., Livingstone, S. & Haddon, L. (2008). Comparing Children's On-line Opportunities and Risks across Europe: Cross-national Comparisons for EU Kids On-line. Londres: EU Kids Online (www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EUKidsOnline/Reports/ReportD3-2CrossnationalComparisonFINAL4.pdf) (06-02-09).

INE Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2007). Encuesta sobre equipamiento y uso de tecnologías de información y comunicación en los hogares (www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft25%2Fp450%2Fa2007%2F&file=pcaxis&L=0&divi=&his=) (12-03-09).

INTECO (2009). Estudio sobre hábitos seguros en el uso de las TIC por niños y adolescentes y e-confianza de sus padres. Madrid: INTECO Instituto Nacional de Tecnologías de la Comunicación. (www.inteco.es/Seguridad/Observatorio/Estudios_e_Informes/Estudios_e_Informes_1/Estudio_ninos) (15-03-09).

Internet y Familia (2006). Estudio sobre seguridad en el uso de las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación entre los menores. Oviedo: Gobierno del Principado de Asturias (www.internetyfamilia.com/superportal/export/sites/default/bibliotecaVirtual/enlaces_internos/Estudio_Internet_Seguro_Asturias.pdf) (13-02-09).

Livingstone, S. & Bober, M. (2006). Regulating the internet at home: Contrasting the perspectives of children and parents, en Buckingham, D. & Willet, R. (Eds.). Digital Generations. Children, Young People, and New Media. Londres: Routledge; 93-114.

Livingstone, S. & Haddon, L. (2008). Risky Experiences for Children On-line: Charting European Research on Children and the Internet. Children & Society, 22(4), 314-323.

Livingstone, S. & Helsper, E. (2008). Parental Mediation of Children's Internet Use. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 52(4); 581-599 (www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-36506676_ITM) (12-03-09).

Livingstone, S. (2007). Los niños en Europa. Evaluación de los riesgos de Internet (Versión electrónica), Telos, (73) (www.campusred.net/TELOS/articulocuaderno.asp?idarticulo=2&rev=73) (23-02-09).

Lobe, B., Livingstone, S. & Haddon, L. (2007). Researching Children's Experiences On-line across Countries: Issues and Problems in Methodology. Londres: EU Kids Online Network (www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EUKidsOnline/Reports/ReportD4.1MethodologicalIssuesCover.pdf) (12-02-09).

Miranda de Larra, R. (2005). Los menores en la red: Comportamiento y navegación segura. Madrid: Fundación AUNA (www.fundacionorange.es/documentos/analisis/cuadernos/los_menores_red.pdf) (23-02-09).

National Centre for Technology in Education (2003). Safety Awareness Fact and Tools. Children's Study Investigating On-line Behaviour. National Centre for Technology in Education (www.ncte.ie/documents/SAFTexecsummaryMay26.pdf) (23-02-09).

National Centre for Technology in Education. (2006). Webwise 2006. Survey of Children's Use of the Internet. Investigating On-line Risk Behaviour. National Centre for Technology in Education (www.webwise.ie/article.aspx?id=4526) (23-02-09).

OFCOM (2006). Media Literacy Audit. Report on Media Literacy Amongst Children. Londres: OFCOM (www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/media_literacy/medlitpub/medlitpubrss/children/children.pdf) (12-03-09).

Rankin, A. (2007). Parents and Teen Internet Use. Washington: Pew Internet & American Life Project (www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teen_Parents_data_memo_Oct2007.pdf) (12-03-09).

Ruiz, J.A. & Salguero, M. (2008). Responsabilidad social y autorregulación de las cadenas televisivas sobre la infancia. Comunicar, XV (30); 113-117.

Sopena, J. (2008). La regulación audiovisual: argumentos a favor y en contra. Comunicar, XV (30), 119-124.

Sotomayor, E. (2008). Normas y pautas de uso de internet de los adolescentes y jóvenes españoles. En Tezanos, J.F. (Ed.), Internet y las familias. Madrid: Sistema; 107-142.

Sureda, J. & Comas, R. (2004). The Use of New Technologies Amongst Minors in the Balearic Islands, en AARE-Australian Association for Research in Education. Conference Papers. Abstracts and Symposia. Melbourne: AARE (www.aare.edu.au/04pap/for04246.pdf) (25-02-09).

Sureda, J. & otros. (2008) Les TIC i els menors a les Illes Balears. Palma: Ibit

Sureda, J., Comas, R., Morey, M., Mut, B., Salvà, F., Oliver,M. (2009) Les TIC I els joves a les Illes Balears. Palma: Ibit.

Williams, N. (2001). Are We Failing our Children? An Assessment of Internet Safety. Londres: Childnet International (www.childnet-int.org/downloads/childnet-safety-initiatives.pdf) (12-03-08).