Internet Risks for Children in Turkey
Abstract: The popularity of the Internet among children is continually increasing while the possible harmful consequences are still a concern for parents and educators A comprehensive study was needed to report not only the Internet usage statistics of children, but also the perceptions of different stakeholders regarding the Internet risks and safety for children Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of children, parents, and teachers about the Internet risks for children In this mixed method study, the quantitative data were collected from 350 children between 3rd and 8th grades in four elementary and secondary schools using a survey Qualitative data were collected by conducting interviews with 9 parents and 12 teachers Results showed that although the children rarely used Internet in schools due to limited access, they used Internet every day while only few were precautious about the risks The teachers reported that they explained the risks and safety of the Internet to children, while the results showed that the parents were more influential for guiding their children Considering the advantages of Internet for children’s learning and development, further attention is needed to educate children, parents, and teachers about the safe usage of Internet