FACTORS INFLUENCING PARENTAL CONTROL FOR THE SAFE AND PEDAGOGICAL INTERNET USE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

Due to the increasing children’s use of the Internet at home and at school as well as that inappropriate Internet content may jeopardize their health or safety, the aim of the present study is twofold: a) to examine parents’ perceptions of the degree to which children may be exposed to negative Internet content, and b) to find out the differences in parents' attitudes to the use of the Internet by students of 4th, 5th and 6th grade, as an acknowledgment of being an important part of their children's day-to-day educational and interpersonal life. 1503 questionnaires from urban and rural provinces of Crete demonstrate that parents’ technological efficacy is strongly related to their better evaluation of the Internet hazards and their effectiveness in promoting Internet safety awareness when navigating with their children at home. Key words: Internet safety awareness, factors, parental control, primary school.