Translating crime prevention knowledge into protective behaviours: Mobilising parental guardians in protecting children online

As increasing numbers of young people engage online there has been a concomitant rise in Online Child Exploitation (OCE) crime. When considering prevention approaches, the essential role of parents and carers (i.e., parental guardians) is often not prioritised. This study explored how three categories of moderators: perceptions (myth endorsement, perceived risk of victimisation), attitudes (sense of responsibility, confidence in protective ability), and emotions (level of concern), influenced the relationship between knowledge of OCE prevention strategies and their use. One hundred and eight four (N = 184) parental guardians of children aged between 11 and 17 years, recruited through social media platforms using a snowball sampling strategy, were surveyed via an online quantitative survey. Linear regression and moderation analyses revealed that knowledge of OCE prevention strategies had a significant, positive relationship with online protective behaviour use. Moderators of myth endorsement, personal responsibility and concern had significant direct relationships with behaviour use, but victimisation risk and confidence did not. No moderation effects were found. Based on the study findings, it was concluded that beyond increasing knowledge, additional elements should be added to education curriculum targeting parental guardians. These include debunking myths about OCE, fostering stronger concern, reinforcing a personal sense of responsibility for children's online safety and reducing reliance on third parties or solutions. This more comprehensive approach to prevention education will mobilise parental guardians in protecting their children when online.