Kaspersky: Parents say the internet is not a risk for children

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“Research reveals that one in five Brazilian parents admit that, due to lack of time or familiarity with technology, they are unable to get involved in their children’s digital lives as they would like”



In June of this year, the Civil Police of Santa uk mobile database issued a warning about social media profiles known as “Homem Pateta” (Goofy Man), which were allegedly inducing children to commit suicide. Earlier this month, a 48-year-old man was arrested in Minas Gerais accused of enticing minors through virtual chats. News about online threats against young children is nothing new, and what is most worrying is that a survey by us, in partnership with the consultancy CORPA, shows that parents in Brazil are less vigilant than they should be.

According to an interview with more than 2,000 parents from five Latin American countries, Brazilians are among those who least view the Internet as an unsafe environment for their children. More than half (55%) of those interviewed in the country believe that, under no circumstances, could the Internet pose a threat to the safety of their children. Brazilians were behind only Argentines (60%). Chile (53%), Peru (50%), Mexico (45%) and Colombia (31%) complete the list.

At the same time, about one in five Brazilian parents (18%) admit that, due to lack of time or familiarity with technology, they are unable to get as involved in their children's digital lives as they would like. In this regard, Brazil performed better than its neighbors in the region. In Chile, 29% of those interviewed said that these issues prevent them from participating more in their children's virtual activities. Colombia (25%), Argentina and Peru (both 22%), and Mexico (20%) rounded out the ranking. In Latin America, the average was 25%.

Ethical question
One of the most sensitive issues regarding the protection of children when accessing the Internet is whether it would be ethical to monitor the digital content that children view. Among Brazilians, this type of surveillance is accepted almost unanimously (97%). Considering the entire region, 78% of Latin American parents believe that it would be ethical to monitor their children until they are between 15 and 18 years old. Meanwhile, 11% believe that the maximum age is between 11 and 14 years old. Only 1% believe that monitoring should be carried out until they are between 7 and 10 years old.

To protect children during virtual activities, parental control tools can be a great ally, as they allow them to manage content, filter messages and set limits on what minors can access. Although 57% of respondents in the region say they regularly talk to their children about the dangers of the internet, it is also important for parents to explain to their children why they have a monitoring system, so that they do not feel that their private space is being invaded or try to deactivate the platform.

According to the survey, some parents who already use a parental control program have noticed that their children have tried to uninstall it. Chileans are the ones who witness the most deactivation attempts in the region, at 22%, followed by Mexicans (16%), Colombians and Brazilians, both at 14%.

In this situation, Fabiano Tricarico, Kaspersky’s retail sales director for Latin America, says it is very important for parents to explain the importance of the parental control tool before installing it and, if they notice an attempt to remove it, to talk to their children. “They may just be curious about a topic or it may be a sign of discomfort, and parents are the best people to educate the child.”

In addition to threats such as cyberbullying or harassment, parents also need to be aware of information theft. This happens mainly through misleading messages or conversations, in which young people can unintentionally reveal personal data, making them more vulnerable to the actions of criminals and even putting their families at risk.