Understanding parents' perceptions of children's cybersecurity awareness in Norway

TL;DR

This study explores Norwegian parents' perceptions of their children's cybersecurity awareness, identifying their needs, challenges, and resources to inform better educational and technological solutions.

Contribution

It provides qualitative insights into parental perceptions, needs, and challenges regarding children's cybersecurity, a previously underexplored area.

Findings

List of children's cybersecurity awareness needs from parents

Available learning resources for children

Challenges faced by parents in ensuring cybersecurity

Abstract

Children are increasingly using the internet nowadays. While internet use exposes children to various privacy and security risks, few studies have examined how parents perceive and address their children's cybersecurity risks. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative study with 25 parents living in Norway with children aged between 10 to 15. We conducted semi-structured interviews with the parents and performed a thematic analysis of the interview data. The results of this paper include a list of cybersecurity awareness needs for children from a parental perspective, a list of learning resources for children, and a list of challenges for parents to ensure cybersecurity at home. Our results are useful for developers and educators in developing cybersecurity solutions for children. Future research should focus on defining cybersecurity theories and practices that contribute to children's and parents' awareness about cybersecurity risks, needs, and solutions.