Parents' Views about Internet Use of Their Children: A Case from A Private School in Turkey

Abstract

With the increase in internet use at home in Turkey, the differences in especially children's skills in technology use as well as the positive and negative effects of the internet increase the importance of the views and roles of parents regarding the internet use of their children. In line with this importance, the purpose of this study is to determine the parents' views about the internet use of their children attending a private elementary school in Turkey. The study was conducted through qualitative research methods. A total of 33 parents whose children attended a private elementary school in Turkey in the academic year of 2007-2008 participated in the study on voluntary basis. The analysis of the research data was carried out running descriptive analysis. The results of the study revealed that the parents considered the internet as the most rapidly-developing technology and that they defined the internet as a window opening to the world and as an environment to reach information. It was also found that the parents believed the internet has positive effects on their children in terms of educational support, reaching information, personal development.. establishing communication, and entertainment. Moreover, the parents were also of the opinion that the internet influences their children negatively with respect to content, individual, psychological and physical effects.