Intel Security Survey Reveals New Family Challenges as Connected Lifestyle Grows
Parents Admit Dedicating Equal Amount of Time to Digital Device Usage
as In-Person Interaction While at Home
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
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76 percent of parents allow their child to bring an internet-connected
device to bed. -
Only 23 percent of parents admit to using software to monitor their
children’s activity on their devices. -
36 percent of parents have been called out by their child for being on
their device during family time.
SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today Intel Security released findings from a recent global study, “New
Family Dynamics in a Connected World,” that aims to better comprehend
how families’ attitudes and habits are evolving as their homes and
lifestyles become increasingly connected. This study underscores the
need for simple ways for parents to manage internet connectivity in
their homes – from blocking inappropriate sites to controlling the
amount of time users spend on their devices to disconnecting to the
internet entirely from time to time.
Today, we are seeing the rise in popularity of the smart home and its
connected devices. In fact, Gartner forecasts that “there will be more
than 10.5 billion ‘things’ in homes by 2020,”1 which we
believe creates a larger potential risk that the devices and personal
data that flow from them can be compromised. While internet-connected
devices offer consumers new opportunities, they can also come with some
drawbacks and potential risks that can be the detriment of relationships.
“While there is tremendous excitement for the conveniences that today’s
technology brings, we know the weakest link in those devices within a
connected home put consumers at risk,” said Gary Davis, chief consumer
security evangelist at Intel Security. “We must empower parents to
actively manage how their families interact with those devices. When the
correct security and privacy measures are taken, consumers will feel
more protected enabling them to fully enjoy all the benefits of living
in a smart home.”
Current Monitoring Methods Don’t Keep Pace with Technology
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Despite their concern of online risks and living a digitally led
lifestyle, parents tend to use older methods to monitor their
children’s device usage. Thirty-five percent of parents admitted to
monitoring their child’s device usage by keeping the device in their
possession and giving it to them only when they were around, while
only 23 percent admit to using software to monitor activity. -
Eighty percent of parents are concerned about their child potentially
interacting with a social predator or cybercriminal online.
Today’s Digital Habits Cause New Parenting Concerns
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Bedtime habits have changed a lot since the introduction of
smartphones and tablets. Seventy-six percent of parents allow their
child to bring an internet-connected device to bed. -
Not only are parents concerned about who their children are
interacting with online, they are also monitoring how much time they
spend in front of a screen. Forty-eight percent of parents allow their
child to have 1-2 hours of screen time per day, and 20 percent allow
their child less than one hour a day. -
Unfortunately, parents can’t be there all the time to monitor the
device usage. In fact, 34 percent of parents claim they have
discovered that their child visited an inappropriate website on their
device. -
Thirty-two percent of survey participants stated that they have argued
with their child about bringing a device to bed. -
Conversely, kids aren’t the only ones who are using devices when they
shouldn’t: Approximately 36 percent of parents surveyed also claimed
that their child has called them out for being on their device during
family time.
The Good News: Online Safety Conversations Are Happening Between
Parents and Children
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Parents understand the importance of talking to their children about
the potential dangers on the internet, with roughly 85 percent having
addressed the risks with their children at some point.
Tips to Keep Families Secure in Year Ahead
To stay protected in the evolving online world, Intel Security has the
following tips for parents:
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Start conversations early. If you start talking about online
safety early, it will make your job that much easier when your
children get older. If your kids are young, start with simple rules
like “don’t open emails from people you don’t know.” You want online
safety to be part of normal behavior. -
Set a good example. It’s easy to get caught up spending a lot
of time on our devices, and kids pick up our habits – both good and
bad. Set a positive example by limiting your time on social networks
when at home and putting your phone away during dinner and family time. -
Keep strangers out. Most children have been using devices
from an early age, desensitizing them to the potentials risks of
online behavior. A false sense of security can set in for children and
they could be unknowingly interacting with a social predator or
dangerous person posing as a teen (catfish). This isn’t just on social
media networks; it applies to common services such as Uber*,
Lyft* and Craigslist*. Remind kids that anyone can create a profile
and to decline friend requests from strangers. -
Take control of your home network. The home network is the hub
for all of your connected devices. New solutions, such as McAfee
Secure Home Platform, help you easily
manage and protect devices connected to this network while providing
parental controls with permissions that can be tailored to the entire
household.
Find More Information:
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To learn more about survey results, check out:
- Blog post from Gary Davis: http://www.securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/consumer/connected-family-smarthome-2017
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Twitter: Follow @IntelSecurity
for live safety updates and tips on securing connected home
devices. Use #SecureHome to join the conversation.
Survey Methodology
In December 2016, Intel Security commissioned OnePoll to conduct a
survey of 13,000 adults (aged 18-55+). Respondents were individuals who
use an internet-connected device on a daily basis and based in the
following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the U.K. and
the U.S.About Intel Security
Intel Security, with its McAfee product line, is dedicated to making the
digital world safer and more secure for everyone. Intel Security is a
division of Intel Corporation. Learn more at www.intelsecurity.com.1 Gartner, Market Trends: Choose a Functional Business Model
for the Connected Home Market, 15 April 2016Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the
United States and other countries.*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
No computer system can be absolutely secure.
Contacts
Intel Security
Craig Sirois, 214-405-2335
craig.sirois@intel.com
or
Zeno
Group, for Intel Security
Ashley Dolezal, 650-801-0931
ashley.dolezal@zenogroup.com