Digital Citizenship

• Digital citizenship refers to online behaviors and knowledge, including responsible and safe use of technology.
• The concept of digital citizenship applies to children of all ages, with parents needing to assist in guidance and learning with their children.
• Virtual resources, such as CyberWise, offer parents education on issues such as current social media apps, tips regarding screen time limits, and raising children in a world increasingly dependent on technology.

Parental Needs and Concerns

• Technology has become increasingly important in society, presenting parents with new challenges.
• Concerns reported by parents regarding technology tend to fall into three categories: content, contact, and conduct.
•  Content concerns refer to parental concerns of what their children see online.
•  Contact concerns relate to who children come into contact with when online.
•  Conduct concerns involve parents worrying about how their children present themselves online, including what information is shared and how they interact with others.
• Parents struggle to know the right amounts of technology to afford their children.
• Digital concerns regarding cyber-bullying, predators, and inappropriate content plague parents of young children.

Parents' Technology Use

• Parents of young children often use technology when their young children are sleeping or otherwise occupied.
• A 2019 study found watching television or movies is the most common digital behavior of parents after their children are asleep, with 76-81% of parents reporting this behavior. Use of social media (60-71%) and talking/texting on a phone (53-66%) were the next most common digital behaviors of parents.
• Approximately 35% of parents reported playing video games after the children were asleep.
• Several digital tools are available to parents of young children, to provide support and education.
• Digital tools marketed to parents involve supporting child development, improving interaction, and providing basic education and support.