Many parents are ignorant of their children’s internet use, with only 29 per cent aware they are accessing the web in their bedrooms, a new study commissioned by the Malta Communications Authority has revealed.

The author, psychology professor Mary Anne Lauri, said parents’ perceptions were often very different from the reality.

Nearly 90 per cent believed their children were using the internet for schoolwork while, in fact, they used it mostly to watch videos.

The study focused on Maltese children aged between eight and 15 as well as their parents or caregivers. Data was collected between November and December.

One-fourth of students admitted they were always online, explaining how they would sneak their mobile phones with them to class to browse the internet.

“Surprisingly so, many parents do not realise their children are accessing the internet from their own bedrooms, from friends’ houses or from shops and cafeterias,” Prof. Lauri said.

Many do not realise their children are accessing the internet from their bedrooms

“Many do not seem to know that mobile phones can be used to browse the internet.”

The increased connectivity with friends had both positive and negative impacts.

The face of studying has changed, with many using Skype to study with their friends.

However, one of the major negative impacts is cyberbullying, which can be worse than normal bullying as it cannot be escaped and follows the children around everywhere.

Many children, Prof. Lauri explained, were not aware of safety precautions and often publicly listed their mobile number and home address.

“It even happens to adults. I know of a couple who went abroad to adopt two children and were so thrilled that they kept posting on Facebook. When they returned, their home was completely bare – burglars had made away with literally everything.”

Kids think hacking, viruses top dangers

Over one fourth of children believe the internet is safe, while over 15 per cent think that meeting new people online is safe too.

Children believe the greatest dangers are hacking and viruses.

“Children seek to be accepted as part of their peer group. It has always been so but now it’s taken on a different dimension. If they are ignored or if they do not get any likes, it can be very traumatic for them.

It seems people are slowly ending up as strangers living under the same roof

“Children and youths are constantly making plans with each other to meet and making last-minute changes – if they are not constantly logged on, they would not have an inkling of what was going on around them.”

The internet, Prof. Lauri continued, was affecting the way we communicate. During examinations, students were lapsing into mobile speak and using acronyms.

The biggest impact of the internet is the way it is changing family relationships.

“There has always been a generation gap between children and their parents but there was some effort at communication. Nowadays, it’s accepted to eat dinner while everyone – including the parents – is tapping away on their mobile phones.

“My fear is that we don’t communicate any longer. There’s a lot going on with each other that we don’t know about, as we are locked inside our own world. It seems people are slowly ending up as strangers living under the same roof.”