Social media? Parents often see few benefits.

Social media? Parents often see few benefits.

As a parent you can face difficult dilemmas about social media. From November 8 to 15 it is the week of media literacy and extra attention is paid to the pros and cons of social media. Is your child allowed on social media? On which apps? From what age?



The Landelijk Ouderpanel asked how parents think about social media and the choices they make. Participants say social media actually has few benefits.

Contact with others main benefit

Parents name contact with peers, family, and friends as the main benefit of social media. The most popular app for this is WhatsApp (32.2%). A smaller part of the parents surveyed, namely 14%, say they see no benefits of social media. Disadvantages parents mention are: disinformation, bullying or being easily distracted.

Between 10 and 12 years is acceptable for social media

About half of parents say their child is allowed on social media between 10 and 12 years old (49.3%). Parents prefer their child to be on social media later than earlier. Of respondents, 22.6% say their child is allowed between 13 and 15 years, while 12.1% of parents do not yet know when their child is allowed.

 

Do you let them loose online?

Many parents think you cannot fully let your child loose online. 21.7% say they check which apps their child downloads. Also it is common to read messages the child receives (15.2%). Some parents say they do not supervise on purpose. They believe their child has a right to privacy. Participants stress it is important to keep talking about everything that happens on social media.

About the research

In this flash poll 614 parents with a child aged 0 to 23 years participated. Do you also want to join the conversation about important school topics? Then sign up for the Landelijk Ouderpanel.