70% parents fear social media distracts children

A survey commissioned by Webtrate, an internet blocking service, has found that 70% of parents fear social media is distracting their children from their studies.

Of the 2,000 parents polled, 63% think it is futile to confiscate smartphones and tablets and many feel unable to make their children do their homework by blocking internet access as homework activities often require internet use.

The recent changes to the curriculum has made computing a subject which is introduced to children from primary school onwards and the popularity of the internet and technology in society explains the popularity of the internet as resource for homework tasks.

The survey found that 56% of parents believe the use of parental web filters could damage their relationship with their children with many saying they wanted their children to develop the self-discipline required to control their own internet use.

Parents may be assisted by current software packages and apps that enable children to set their homework targets, block internet time and award themselves success ratings when they meet homework deadlines.

A parent trialling such a software package with her daughter commented to BBC news reporters and stated: “She’s in full control. She loves it. She writes down her goals, puts in the social media sites she wants to block and the amount of time.”

Will Little, of Webtrate, noted that many parents wanted to encourage their children “to block the internet for their own benefit rather than because their parents are telling them to”.

Mel Green