Facilitators and Barriers in Parental Mediation of Internet Use by At-Risk Families

The Internet presents a great challenge for families that want a safe digital environment for their children, yet few studies have been performed of facilitators and barriers to the processes by which parents mediate Internet use. Our study reviews the literature indexed in WoS, Scopus, and ERIC since 2000 and identifies factors related to children, parents, and cultural differences due to context. It also performs a qualitative study with at-risk families in southern Spain using focus group technique. Our findings show that parents primarily perceive barriers, emphasizing lack of control over their children's Internet access and usage. Negative beliefs about Internet use also contribute to these challenges. There is a critical need to design programs that give families tailored tools and resources. Addressing educational needs in this context remains a significant challenge for both research and practice. To enhance children's digital safety, it is crucial for parents, educators, and policymakers to collaborate actively. Future research efforts should aim to develop more effective strategies in this direction.