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Top news: Byron Review pushes skills for poorer parents up digi-agenda

ICT and internet skills for parents – particularly those at a social or financial disadvantage - must go up the government’s digital agenda in the wake of yesterday’s Byron Review.

The call for action comes from UK online centres, today welcoming Tanya Byron’s report into children’s use of new technologies.

The organisation, which runs a network of computer access and support centres across England, contributed information and research to the review.  They found that while three quarters of parents from lower socio-economic groups know their children use the internet regularly, but half don’t have the skills to assist or supervise with surfing.

Managing Director of UK online centres, Helen Milner, explains:  “Being a 21st Century parent increasingly requires new parenting skills.  It’s not just about looking after your children in the real world – you’ve got to look after them in the virtual world too.  The Byron Review by-passes the emotive elements of internet safety and video game violence to make practical recommendations that put parents at the heart of the debate.  By empowering parents with information and skills, families can make the most of the benefits of technology, without falling foul of its pitfalls.

“UK online centres already help the ICT inexperienced get to grips with computers and the internet, and I’m delighted to see Tanya Byron recognise a role for the network in working with extended schools and other partners to implement her recommendations.  In doing so, however, it’s vital we recognise the digital divide as more than a generation gap between parents and their digital-native children.  The digital divide is also linked to socio-economic status, and those families left on the wrong side are increasingly missing out on the practical, financial and educational opportunities ICT and internet skills provide.  Our research shows 75% of socially excluded people are also digitally excluded, and that means poorer parents are three times more likely to be off-line.

“Moving forwards, we must make sure we don’t leave behind the families with potentially most to gain from technology, and I strongly support the Review’s emphasis on improved education and information for parents and children.  ICT skills for parents doesn’t just mean keeping children safe online, it means helping with homework research, saving time, money and hassle with online transactions, instant access to information, even increased employment or promotion prospects.  It’s vital the myriad benefits of ICT and internet skills are understood, recognised and advertised to the third of the population still digitally excluded.  I’m very keen to see Byron’s suggested awareness campaign kick-off, and build upon the work UK online centres have been doing with our annual Get online day and other campaigns to make people more aware of what they could do on the internet, and what the internet could do for them.

“Byron has shaped a cross-sector, cross-departmental response to support parents and children to live happy digital lives.  If we can work together to get it right, the results for families could be both cross cutting and far reaching.”

Ends

Tanya Byron and Helen Milner will both be speaking at the third national Digital Inclusion Conference, taking place in London on Tuesday 29 April.  Other contributors will include Minister for schools Jim Knight MP, Minister for Digital Inclusion Paul Murphy MP, Baroness Andrews OBE from the Department of Communities and Local Government, plus representatives from BT, Microsoft, EICTA and the EU-E Inclusion Directorate.

For more information about the Conference or to book your place, please visit www.civicconferences.co.uk or contact Rebecca Lovatt, Civic Conferences, 0207 378 0422 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

For more information about this press release, please contact Abi Stevens, UK online centres, 0778 666 0689 – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes to editors