More than Half of Parents Have No Online Filters on Children’s Computer: Ofcom Report

Ofcom reports that more than half of parents have not yet installed online filters on their children’s computer and gadgets.

In spite of claims that young kids are more at risk at home, 57 percent of parents with children age five to 15 still keep their children’s computers unsecured. The remaining 43 percent, however, have managed to install security applications on their kids’ computers.

Most of the parents who do not have filters on their homes say they do not know how to install controls and that their kids are more knowledgeable when it comes to computers, or they don’t even know how to use the Internet.

The researchers interviewed 2,374 parents in which 64 percent of them admitted that their online safety measures were fine and effective.

They also found that a small percentage of the participants have installed online filters on their kids’ Internet-enabled gadgets.

The stats bear Daily Mail’s call for internet service providers to block websites not suitable for minors and to follow a strict age confirmation for R-18 sites on the net.

The U.S. Government promised a “give and take” solution wherein all new broadband contracts will have activated filters and existing customers will be encouraged to have a filter.

Miranda Suit, co-chairman of Safermedia, said, “Ofcom’s figures show the problem of dealing with the internet is still growing.

“Parents have still not been able to catch up with their children’s technology skills and protect them adequately.

“Children who use tablets are more easily able to use public Wi-Fi. Instead of sitting at the family PC they can just go to the local park or café. And lots of public Wi-Fi is unfiltered, meaning they can access whatever they want.”

Siobhan Freegard, founder of the Netmums website, told The Daily Telegraph, “You wouldn't leave your house front door open to strangers, but not setting parental controls means the door is wide open for strangers to contact your kids online.

“It's staggering to think over half of families don't have safety software in place, it means the message isn't getting out there about how to counteract the dangers.”

The report was published by Ofcom titled Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes.

Real Time Analytics