Most parents feel powerless to protect their kids online from cyber bullying

The study of 1,400 parents of children aged 6-18 found 57 per cent know little about how to keep their kids safe, with 33 per cent of these admitting they aren’t that tech savvy.
And 47 per cent have little access to what their child is doing online, due to locked phones and console passwords.
While 55 per cent of parents who feel helpless find it hard to keep up with all the online channels their child can use.
The research, commissioned by The Diana Award, has been released after Downing Street hosting a closed reception with charity ambassadors Rio Ferdinand, UK youth mental health ambassador for the Department of Education, Dr Alex George and anti-bullying young ambassadors trained by the charity.
The meeting with Number 10 came as the Online Safety Bill goes through parliament.
Bullying behaviour increases
According to the research, 46 per cent of parents fear their child knows more about technology than the older members of the house and can cover issues up.
Of the children polled, 58 per cent wouldn’t tell their parents if someone tried to bully them online.
And 45 per cent are unsure that their parents would be able to help them anyway.
The Diana Award’s spokesperson, Alex Holmes, said: “The online element of modern life can make bullying behaviour far more complex.
“When many of today’s parents were young, bullying behaviour – while awful – was something that happened outside or at school.
“Now, the safe-space that was home is also increasingly under threat in today’s always-connected world, especially where lockdowns and school closures have encouraged bullying behaviour to seep more and more into life online”.
Parents might be part of the problem
The study also found 54 per cent of parents realise they may be part of the problem – by sharing something online which could be construed as bullying or offensive, that