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What Makes Greek Parents and Teachers Determine Safe Internet Use for Students in Elementary Schools

Elena Vitalaki, George Tsouvelas and Panagiotes S Anastasiades

Recognizing that schools have become the universal location where young people are learning about the Internet in a safe and responsible manner and are also an important conduit of information for parents- many of whom are not as technically literate as their children, this research investigates: a) teachers' and parents’ education about the safe and responsible use of the Internet by elementary students, b) the differences in parents’ and teachers’ attitudes towards the students’ use of the Internet in the family home and at school and, c) the kind of issues or concerns that emerge between parents and teachers as an acknowledgment of the web based technologies importance in the students’ day-to-day social and educational activities. Interviews by 230 teachers and 1289 parents in 36 elementary schools in urban and rural provinces of Crete demonstrate that technologically sophisticated parents expressed more concern over their children’s negative consequences of the Internet use and tended to provide more guidance and influence to which children may be more responsive compared to teachers’ advice or assistance with technological efficacy. The implications of the findings are discussed.