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Children at risk because parents don't understand net-speak, web body warns Children at risk because parents don't understand net-speak, web body warns
(2 months later)
Parents are failing to protect their children in cyberspace because they don't understand the net-speak that peppers online exchanges, a web safety organisation has warned.Parents are failing to protect their children in cyberspace because they don't understand the net-speak that peppers online exchanges, a web safety organisation has warned.
Just three out of 10 parents could understand the internet terms LMIRL, 'frape', YOLO, ASL, POS and trolling, according to Know the Net, which is calling for adults to develop a better understanding of online vocabulary.Just three out of 10 parents could understand the internet terms LMIRL, 'frape', YOLO, ASL, POS and trolling, according to Know the Net, which is calling for adults to develop a better understanding of online vocabulary.
A survey of 1,000 parents found the least understood term was LMIRL, which means 'let's meet in real life', with only 8% correctly defining the term - a finding that suggests parents are unaware of teenagers planning to meet up with strangers they've only met online.A survey of 1,000 parents found the least understood term was LMIRL, which means 'let's meet in real life', with only 8% correctly defining the term - a finding that suggests parents are unaware of teenagers planning to meet up with strangers they've only met online.
Also among the least known acronymns was ASL – which means age, sex, location. Only 28% knew that POS means parents over shoulder.Also among the least known acronymns was ASL – which means age, sex, location. Only 28% knew that POS means parents over shoulder.
"Parents may find it frustrating that web language moves so fast, but they need to have some understanding of what's going on so that they can engage with and support their kids through some of the greyer aspects of our cyber lives," said Phil Kingsland, director of the Know the Net ."Parents may find it frustrating that web language moves so fast, but they need to have some understanding of what's going on so that they can engage with and support their kids through some of the greyer aspects of our cyber lives," said Phil Kingsland, director of the Know the Net .
Trolling was the term that most parents were able to identify – 58% – while less than a quarter understood YOLO means you only live once. Frape means sabotaging someone's Facebook page when they leave themselves logged in. Longer established terms – WTF, LOL and OMG – were well understood.Trolling was the term that most parents were able to identify – 58% – while less than a quarter understood YOLO means you only live once. Frape means sabotaging someone's Facebook page when they leave themselves logged in. Longer established terms – WTF, LOL and OMG – were well understood.
Mothers were slightly more adept than fathers at recognising net-speak.Mothers were slightly more adept than fathers at recognising net-speak.
Parents' ignorance emerged as Know the Net launched a campaign to persuade parents to stay in touch with their children's online activity by familiarising themselves with the language, asking directly how their children feel about their internet activity and checking unfamiliar terms in online dictionaries.Parents' ignorance emerged as Know the Net launched a campaign to persuade parents to stay in touch with their children's online activity by familiarising themselves with the language, asking directly how their children feel about their internet activity and checking unfamiliar terms in online dictionaries.
The survey also revealed that parents may be ignorant that their children are involved in illegal downloading with 42% of parents failing to understand the term torrenting, which refers to illegal downloads of digital media.The survey also revealed that parents may be ignorant that their children are involved in illegal downloading with 42% of parents failing to understand the term torrenting, which refers to illegal downloads of digital media.
A third of teenagers admitted to having downloaded illegal content in the past (32%), with almost 10% of 10- to 12-year-olds admitting to having done it.A third of teenagers admitted to having downloaded illegal content in the past (32%), with almost 10% of 10- to 12-year-olds admitting to having done it.
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