The Deseret News has published a great article “Do you really know what your children view online?” Here are some key points from the article:

• 32% of teens said they had deliberately accessed pornography and only 12% of parents are aware of it.
• 48% of teens look up assignments and test answers online.
• 62% of teens have seen cruel behavior online.
• Although 82% of parents said they know what their tweens do online, 44% of the kids said they have looked at things that their parents would not have approved of and 34% said they’ve lied to their parents about their online activity.
• More than 40% of teens have received a personal message from a stranger online and 12% then actually met that person in real life.
• 1 in 8 has been bullied online.

Teens report that they spend about 5 hours a day online–about double what their parents think they spend. This is a significant influence that parents need to be aware of.

Please spend some time talking with your children about their online activities. Create a supportive environment where you can openly discuss what is available online–both good and bad–and help them understand how to deal with it.

Read the whole article “Do you really know what your children view online?“