2 in 5 parents more relaxed about children’s online safety over Christmas

Internet Matters Team | December 6th, 2024

Internet Matters supports parents and professionals with comprehensive resources and expert guidance to help them navigate the ever-changing world of child internet safety.

A family sitting in a sofa with a dog on the floor celebrating Christmas and playing with their devices

Internet Matters’ CEO shares advice with busy parents to put online safety measures in place now ahead of the hectic festive season for peace of mind – which the Government has welcomed.

Summary

Eight in ten of those parents who are more relaxed about their children’s online activity want to be less strict simply because ‘it’s Christmas’
Of the same group, three quarters say their children will be allowed to spend more time online over Christmas and over a quarter will be on social media more often

Create your digital toolkit

Christmas is a time for merriment and enjoyment with many letting their hair down a little during the festive season. In addition to six in ten parents (58%) caring less about what they eat, and two fifths (43%) being more relaxed about drinking alcohol over Christmas, new research from Internet Matters – the leading online safety not-for-profit – found that many parents will also relax the rules for their children too, with two in five (42%) being less strict when it comes to their children’s online activity.

How and why are parents more lenient?

The main reason two in five parents are more relaxed stems from parents wanting to simply enjoy the Christmas festivities, with eight in ten (78%) saying they’re more lenient simply because ‘it’s Christmas’. On the other hand, a third (27%) say they just need to keep their kids occupied and a fifth (18%) say they are kept so busy with other things at this time of year.

With parents often run ragged in the run up to Christmas, this could open up children to potential online risk, as nearly a fifth of parents (17%) who do relax online rules over Christmas say they will allow their children to use devices where safety controls may not be in place. At the same time, 74% allow their children to spend more time online, and at later hours (37%) too.

What’s more, over a quarter (27%) of these parents will give children permission to use social media more frequently, which, coupled with the fact one in ten (13%) will allow their kids to use apps and platforms they wouldn’t usually be allowed to, means it’s important to set up parental controls and privacy settings this Christmas.

Be careful of children’s access to other people’s devices

The research also revealed that 39% of parents believe their children are more likely to use internet-enabled devices that belong to other people, such as their cousins when visiting family during this time. The most common devices are another child’s games console (44%) or tablet (31%), or another adult’s mobile phone (29%). Amongst those whose children might use other people’s devices over Christmas, 71% admit they do not always check that these have any safety restrictions or controls in place.

True to the British stereotype, amongst those who don’t always check, 37% say they feel it would be ‘rude’ to ask. While for two fifths (42%), that have previously not checked for controls on other people’s devices, will do so now in future.

Carolyn Bunting MBE, co-CEO of Internet Matters, said:

“Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for parents, and it is easy for some of the usual rules to go out of the window, for parents and for children! After all, who doesn’t want to enjoy the run up to Christmas day with as little stress as possible?

“We want to give parents one less thing to worry about, so parents can use ‘My Family’s Digital Toolkit’, which offers straightforward and easy-to-follow advice, to help keep kids safe online during the festive season and beyond.”

What can parents do?

To help parents at what is an incredibly busy time of the year, Internet Matters has a handy solution in My Family’s Digital Toolkit – offering personalised online safety advice, to give parents everything they need to keep their child safe. In addition to providing advice for a range of common online safety concerns, the toolkit lets parents customise their answers depending on their child’s age, and the apps and devices they use.

The Toolkit covers all aspects of a child’s online life including gaming, social media, watching videos and even ways to develop new skills. By simply answering eight questions, parents can get ahead of the festive season and put measures in place to keep their children safe when they may have less time to think about it.

The Government has welcomed Internet Matters’ initiative for parents to set up online safety measures ahead of Christmas, so that children and families have safe and enjoyable experiences online over the festive period.

Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology said:

“As the festive season approaches many families will be receiving new devices under the tree, and with the usual work and school schedules on pause, screentime often increases.

“Tools like Internet Matters’ Digital Toolkit helps parents to make the right digital choices and set boundaries for their families just as they do in the offline world. This means young people can make the most of the opportunities the online world brings whilst parents can have the peace of mind they are doing so in a safe and secure way – throughout all the Christmas fun and into the new year.”