Eight in Ten (77%) Parents Concerned Their Teenage Child Could Encounter Sexual Predators Online

Toronto, ON - Eight in ten (77%) parents with children between the ages of 12 and 17, inclusive, are concerned that their child could encounter sexual predators online, with a majority (51%) indicating that they are `very concerned', and a quarter (26%) saying that they are `somewhat concerned'. Highlighting some of the possible dangers of the internet, the results of a new Ipsos Reid poll reveal that parents are also concerned with their child potentially encountering pornographic websites (74%), fraudulent scams (70%), inappropriate language (68%), and cyber-bullying (60%).

In an attempt to monitor the content of websites that their children are visiting, almost two thirds (62%) of Canadian parents say that they have visited the websites that their child has visited. Similarly, two thirds (65%) use their internet browser's history function on an ongoing basis to see what sites their child has been visiting.

In the event that their child has been a victim of any sort of negative experience while on the internet, only half (53%) of Canadian parents know who to contact should this experience occur. Canadian parents do not appear to know where to get a number of resources to help them keep their kids safe on the internet. Only six in ten (58%) know where to download parental control software, while just 54% know where do find materials to help them or their children become informed about internet safety. One quarter (22%) of Canadian parents do not know where to find any of these materials at all.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Symantec from May 29 to June 2, 2007. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1093 adults across Canada, with at least one child between the ages of 12 and 17 inclusive, who also have access to the internet at home, was interviewed online. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population with children this age been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.

Eight In Ten (77%) Parents Concerned Their Teenage Child Could Encounter Sexual Predators Online...

Perhaps recalling the all-too-frequent reports of online predators in the news media, eight in ten (77%) parents with children between the ages of 12 and 17, inclusive, are concerned that their child could encounter sexual predators online. What is particularly interesting is the severity with which Canadians are concerned about online sexual predators, with a majority (51%) indicating that they are `very concerned', and a quarter (26%) saying that they are `somewhat concerned' that their child could encounter these types of individuals online.

• Albertans are the most likely of all Canadians to be concerned with their children encountering sexual predators, with 86% indicating that they are `very' (57%) or `somewhat' (28%) concerned.
• Quebecers are less likely than the rest of Canadians to be worried about online sexual predators, with only two thirds (66%) indicating that they are `very' (39%) or `somewhat concerned' (26%) that their children could encounter one online.
• Canadian parents without a high school diploma are also disproportionately concerned about the possibility of their child encountering a sexual predator online, with most (84%) indicating that they are `very' (68%) or `somewhat' (16%) concerned.
• Women (79%) are slightly more likely (75%) than men to be concerned about this type of encounter.

But Canadians are not only concerned about their children encountering sexual predators online. Three quarters (74%) indicate that they are either `very' (46%) or `somewhat concerned' (28%) with their child encountering pornographic websites online, while seven in ten (70%) are either `very' (37%) or `somewhat concerned' (33%) that their children could encounter fraudulent scams online. Furthermore, seven in ten (68%) are either `very' (28%) or `somewhat concerned' (39%) that their children could encounter inappropriate language and swearing online, while six in ten (60%) are `very' (29%) or `somewhat concerned' (31%) that their child could encounter cyber-bullying online.

• Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are more likely than Canadians in other regions to say that they are concerned about their children encountering pornographic websites, with 85% indicating that they are concerned.
• Residents of Quebec are least concerned that their children could encounter pornographic websites online, with just under six in ten (57%) indicating so.
• It appears that Quebecers are less concerned, in general, about all types of online incidents studied, demonstrating a lower rate of concern across the board than other regions of the country. For example, while 70% of Canadians are concerned about fraudulent scams, only 62% of Quebecers are similarly concerned. Moreover, while 60% of Canadians are concerned with cyber bullying, only 49% of Quebecers indicate that they are concerned.

Parents Monitoring Sites That Their Children Visit...

Nearly one third (62%) of Canadian parents with children between 12 and 17 years old have visited the websites that their child has visited in order to monitor the content of those sites frequented by their children. Similarly, two thirds (65%) use their internet browser's history function to see what sites their child has been visiting. Further, two thirds (66%) of parents monitor the online activities of their child while on the computer at home. Interestingly, only 16% of parents monitor the online activities of their child when using computers outside of the home.

• Women (65%) are more likely than men (56%) to claim to have visited the websites that their children visit in order to monitor content. Women (67%) are also more likely than men (61%) to use their browser's history function for this purpose.
• Seven in ten (69%) Atlantic Canadians visit the websites that their children visit, compared to 56% of Quebecers. Nearly one quarter (23%) of Atlantic Canadians monitor the online activities of their children outside of the home.
• Seven in ten (70%) women monitor the online activities of their children when they use the computer at home, compared to just over half (56%) of men who do the same.

Most (92%) Parents Discussing Possible Dangers Of Internet With Their Kids...

It appears that most (92%) Canadian parents are sitting down with their children and discussing the possible dangers of the internet with them. In fact, three quarters (74%) have sat down and clearly communicated what are acceptable and not acceptable online activities. Equally, 74% have instructed their child on what to do if they are contacted by a stranger online. A similar proportion are asking their children about who they are chatting to online (77%), and explicitly asking their children about which websites they are visiting (74%).

• While Quebecers claim to be the most likely (94%) Canadians to have discussed the possible dangers of the internet with their children, they are the least likely of all Canadians (61%) to have sat down with their child and clearly communicate what are acceptable and not acceptable online activities.
• Quebecers are also the most likely (82%) to have instructed their children on what to do if they are contacted by a stranger online, compared to the national average (74%).
• Women (80%) are more likely than men (72%) to ask their kids about who they are chatting to online. Similarly, women (78%) are more likely than men (69%) to communicate with their child regarding the websites that they are visiting.

Despite these discussions, only half (49%) of Canadian parents with children aged 12-17 are familiar with their child's online aliases. Just over one third (36%) of parents are initiating parental controls on their internet browser, while even fewer (31%) are posting rules for their children to follow by the computer.

• Quebecers (57%) are more likely to be familiar with their child's online aliases than residents in the rest of Canada (49%).
• Women (38%) are more likely than men (32%) to initiate parental controls on their internet browser.
• Four in ten (39%) parents who report a combined household income of less than $30,000 claim to have posted rules for their children to follow by their computer, compared to just one quarter (26%) of parents whose combined income exceeds $60,000.

Parents Not totally Familiar With Common Online Products...

When asked about their familiarity with some common online products that their children might be using, many Canadians claimed that they were not familiar with some of these products.

• Just 11% were unfamiliar with instant messaging products.
• One quarter (26%) of parents were unfamiliar with YouTube, despite its increased coverage in the media.
• One third of parents with at least one child aged 12-17 were unfamiliar with blogs (31%) and MySpace (32%).
• Despite its popularity among young people, four in ten (41%) Canadian parents were unfamiliar with Facebook

Only Half (53%) Know Who To Contact Should Their Child Be A Victim On The Internet...

In the event that their child has been a victim of any sort of negative experience while on the internet, only half (53%) of Canadian parents know who to contact should this experience occur. Canadian parents do not appear to know where to get a number of resources to help them keep their kids safe on the internet. Only six in ten (58%) know where to download parental control software, while just 54% know where do find materials to help them or their children become informed about internet safety. One quarter (22%) of Canadian parents do not know where to find any of these materials at all.

• British Columbian and Albertan parents appear to be the most likely to not know where to find any of these resources, with 27% and 26%, respectively, indicating that they do not know where to find any of these materials.
• There are very few significant differences across the board when it comes to Canadian parents knowing where to locate many of these resources. This suggests that a knowledge gap penetrates demographic segmentations, and that there is room for growth among all Canadians, whether they be educated or not, rich or poor, man or woman.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 324-2002
[email protected]

or
Sean Simpson
Research Manager
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 572-4474
[email protected]

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Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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