Decoding Digital Risk: Comparing Parent and Teen Reports of Teens’ Online Activities

As youth engage with digital media and technologies, parents face evolving challenges in balancing their benefits and risks. Despite recommendations to support parents in promoting teens' healthy digital habits, research suggests that parents' perceptions of teens' online activities often differ from teens' own reports. Using data from 522 parent-teen pairs, this study examined discrepancies in parent versus teen reports of parental digital mediation practices and parental knowledge of teens' online activities. Weighted prevalence estimates and measures of parent-teen discordance were calculated, accounting for the complex survey design. Findings revealed consistent discrepancies, with parents generally overestimating their knowledge of teens' online activities; however, discordance was lowest when parents engaged in digital monitoring strategies. These findings may inform approaches that help parents develop a more accurate understanding of teens' online activities and risk exposure while supporting teens' digital safety and autonomy.