Research
Survey: Late Nights Online Affecting Behavior and Academic Performance, Worrying Parents
The majority of parents have found their kids using social media or browsing
the Internet when they were supposed to be sleeping and parents are worried
that the lack of sleep is causing their kids to be more irritable and less able
to concentrate on schoolwork, according to the results of a new survey.
Stop Procrastinating, a
company that offers site blocking and filtering software, conducted the survey
of 3,000 parents of children aged 12 to 15 between August 14 and September 18,
2015. The survey found that parents are concerned about the effects of
late-night Internet use on their children's behavior and academic performance,
but they also feel like they are "unable to ban the use of social media as its
presence is so pervasive," according to a news release from the company.
"Children used to be caught having a midnight snack or reading under the bed
covers, now they are staying up late into the night browsing the internet or
using social media, sending messages to friends," said Tim Rollins, research
director at Stop Procrastinating, in a prepared statement.
Key findings from the survey:
- 74 percent of parents said they believe late-night Internet use has affected the
quality of their children's sleep;
- 62 percent told researchers they think their kids are more irritable and less able to
concentrate as a result of their late-night online activities;
- 69 percent said they are worried the behavior could lead to fatigue and reduced
concentration on schoolwork;
- 37 percent indicated they are worried that it could lead to anxiety and depression;
- 51 percent reported a noticeable effect on their children's ability to finish
homework;
- 36 percent told researchers they had raised the issue with teachers, who also noticed that the
children were more tired;
- 59 percent of parents said they had observed their kids using social media while
doing homework and worried about the effects of multitasking on academic
concentration and performance; and
- 42 percent reported feeling guilty that their children's education was being affected
by late-night Internet use.
Stop Procrastinating weighted the survey results for age and region and used
"standard national opinion polling methodologies," according to a news release
from the company.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at leilameyer@gmail.com.