Digital Parenting: Raising and Protecting Children's Internet Use

Abstract

Abstract Background: Since 1993, the introduction of the internet has revolutionized our society like nothing before. There are over 2 billion users, and our youth make up a large percentage of those users. Parents often discuss what websites or social media apps they censor from their children. I wanted to acknowledge the differences in parenting styles and find universals habits or ideas that can help parents safely introduce their children to the internet. Objective: This study aimed to determine the right time and environment to introduce a child to the internet. Design and Method: The research method is based on recent literature on the effect of the internet on children, as well as the relationship between children, school administrators, and parents and how all of those come together to create a safe environment for children. Peer-reviewed, scholarly articles are reviewed in the results sections. I chose to explore the following research questions. What influential role should parents take when monitoring their child's internet use? What are some ways that schools can monitor and mitigate safe internet use at school? With the complexities of the internet, what behaviors might parents observe to monitor their children's use? Results: The significance of the study is that introducing children to the internet requires many different components, parents, children, and our schools, working together to ensure a safe and educational environment. Conclusions: Children must be open and honest with their parents. Parents much work diligently to ensure that their child is comfortable being open and honest. Parents must also be knowledgeable about the internet; you cannot protect your child from something you have no idea about. Our countries educational system must provide a safe and educational environment for our developing youth; there should be internet literacy taught as well as clear discipline procedures for children who abuse the internet. Keywords: Peer victimization, cyberbullying, behavioral control, psychological control.