Teens may be close with their parents, but that doesn’t mean they are completely transparent with them. Half of 13-15-year-olds (54%) and 56% of 16-17-year-olds hide what they do online from their parents, according to McAfee and Harris Interactive. Teens typically clear browsers, delete text messages, and create private email addresses.
At the same time, parents aren’t monitoring their teens as well as they do their younger children. Whereas 94% of parents check up on their tweens’ online activities, only 55% check their teens’ activities. Parents are also more likely to know passwords, check browser history, and keep the computer in a public space with tweens than with teens. Most parents know how to keep tabs over their teen’s Internet activities. Only 33% of parents of 16-17-year-olds, 23% of parents of 13-15-year-olds, and 10% of parents of 10-12-year-olds say they are clueless about the Internet.
The main reason for the lack of parental observation is time. Nearly half of parents of 16-17-year-olds (45%) admit they don’t have time to monitor activities, while 27% of parents of 13-15-year-olds, and 10% of parents of 10-12-year-olds say the same.
Sources: Harris Interactive, Alyssa Hall, 161 Sixth Ave.,New York, NY 10013; 212-539-9749; ahall@harrisinteractive.com; www.harrisinteractive.com.
McAfee, Kim Eichorn, 3965 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara, CA 95054; 408-346-3606; kim_eichorn@mcafee.com; www.mcafee.com
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