Parental awareness and monitoring of adolescent Internet use

Albert Kienfie Liau, Angeline Khoo, Peng Hwa Ang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

107 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study focused on four aspects of parental monitoring of Internet use by their children: parental supervision, communication and tracking, and adolescent disclosure. Data were obtained from a SAFT (Safety Awareness for Teens Project) national survey of Singapore youths and parents regarding Internet safety at home. Study 1 examined 1,124 adolescents and 1,002 parents; Study 2 examined a subsample of 169 dyads of adolescents and their parents. Frequency of use and engagement in risky Internet behaviors such as visiting inappropriate websites were analysed. The results indicated that parents tend to underestimate adolescents' engagement in risky Internet behaviors and overestimate the amount of parental monitoring regarding Internet safety that occurs at home. The study suggested that mothers have a better awareness of their adolescents' Internet use than fathers. The findings were explained in the context of parental monitoring. The results suggest that parental monitoring needs to be reconceptualized and that parents need to improve the communication with their adolescents regarding Internet use.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)217-233
Number of pages17
JournalCurrent Psychology
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Psychology

Keywords

  • Adolescent Internet use
  • Internet
  • Parental awareness
  • Parental monitoring

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