Keeper Security has recently released the Keeper Security Parental Practices Report: Conversations on Cybersecurity. This report explores the attitudes, practices, and concerns of parents regarding cybersecurity discussions with their children. The findings of the report are crucial to shed light on this imperative topic for families. Surprisingly, the report reveals that one in three parents admitted that they have never spoken to their children about cybersecurity.
Moreover, the report also highlights another alarming statistic. Over 40% of parents who confessed to not knowing how to create strong passwords still give their children access to their mobile phones. Additionally, nearly a third (32%) of parents give their children access to their computers, despite their lack of knowledge in creating secure passwords.
The comprehensive survey was conducted in 2023 by Censuswide and engaged 4005 parents from diverse backgrounds in the US, UK, France, and Germany. The research aimed to delve into parental comfort levels and frequency when discussing cybersecurity with their children, identifying who is responsible for initiating these conversations, and determining the digital platforms children are allowed to access.
The report finds that discussing cybersecurity is now less taboo than sex education, with 57% of respondents expressing greater comfort discussing password security. Surprisingly, 16% of participants felt more comfortable talking about sex. However, one in five (19%) expressed discomfort discussing either subject.
Regarding which parent educates their children about cybersecurity, the research indicates that mothers are primarily responsible for these discussions. Fifty-six percent of parents stated that mothers were the ones initiating cybersecurity talks with their children.
However, the report raises significant concerns as 30% of parents confessed to never addressing cybersecurity with their children. On the positive side, 75% of parents with 12-16-year-olds and 62% with 8-11-year-olds have engaged their children in these discussions. Nevertheless, the exposure of younger children to the internet without proper cybersecurity guidance remains a serious concern. The report revealed that 44% of younger children own mobile phones, and 46% have online gaming accounts.
The level of digital account access also varied by age, with 73% of 12-16-year-olds owning mobile phones. It is noteworthy that nearly half (48%) of the parents who stated that their child does not understand how to create a secure password have their own mobile phones, and 44% have their own online gaming accounts.
The report highlights a lack of confidence in children’s ability to create strong passwords. Only 45% of parents believe their 8-11-year-olds can create secure passwords, while 70% have confidence in their 12-16-year-olds’ password security. This lack of confidence often stems from parents’ own insufficient password security knowledge. Unfortunately, this leads parents to grant their children access to their devices, leaving them vulnerable to potential risks.
Darren Guccione, the CEO of Keeper Security, emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity in modern parenting. He suggests that as children spend more time online, the discourse around cybersecurity becomes a crucial element of parenting. Guccione also highlights the need for increased awareness and education on digital safety among parents. He believes that schools should also play a significant role in filling this knowledge gap and taking action at an earlier age.
For those interested in the full study, the Keeper Security Parental Practices Report can be found at: https://www.keeper.io/hubfs/Reports/Parental-Practices-Report-2023-UK.pdf