Young people who are excluded online often also feel abandoned by adults

Young people who are excluded online experience insufficient support from adults. More than a third (36%) say they feel left alone by parents or other adults when it comes to what happens online. Adults do not see or understand well what is happening in their online world, according to research by the Offlimits Foundation in collaboration with the School & Safety Foundation and Dr. Remco Spithoven. The research results provide the basis for a National Online Parents' Evening which KPN is organizing on Wednesday, January 28th. During this evening, online exclusion will be the central theme, and parents and caregivers will receive practical tools to recognize the signs and start a conversation with their children, under the motto: How was your day online?

Online exclusion often takes place outside the view of adults

The study shows that seven in ten young people (70%) believe teachers don't fully understand how often online exclusion occurs. Parents also underestimate the problem, according to young people: 67% say adults at home don't see what's happening online. Young people between the ages of 13 and 15, in particular, feel that parents and other adults don't see or understand what's happening online. "Online exclusion often occurs outside the view of adults," explains Dr. Remco Spithoven of Saxion University of Applied Sciences. "But the impact is significant. Young people who feel excluded online can also withdraw offline. Adults play an important role by showing interest, asking questions, and being alert to changes in behavior."

Social isolation and depression due to online exclusion

New research by Helpwanted, in collaboration with School & Safety and Dr. Remco Spithoven of Saxion University of Applied Sciences, among young people aged 10 to 20 shows the extent of the problem: More than half of young people experience online exclusion, and for as many as one in four (23%), this happens at least once a month. Online exclusion can lead to serious psychological consequences such as insomnia, social isolation, and depression. Young people who experience online exclusion primarily feel sad (42%), angry (35%), and lonely (30%). About a quarter of young people (25%) regularly feel depressed or down due to online exclusion.

From online exclusion to offline loneliness

According to the Foundation Stop Pesten Nu, online exclusion is rarely an isolated problem. "What happens online impacts daily life," says founder Patricia Bolwerk. "Because adults often don't see it, young people not only feel excluded online, but also unheard offline. By asking questions and listening without judgment, parents, caregivers, and teachers can make a real difference."

Online parent evening as a starting point for the conversation

During KPN's National Online Parent Evening, various experts and partners will discuss online exclusion. Alongside De Kindertelefoon, School & Veiligheid, and Stop Bullying Now, Karin Swerink, editor-in-chief of LINDA Magazine, will also be joining the discussion. Following previous publications on online exclusion, the magazine received many questions from readers. Parents and caregivers can ask questions and receive practical tips for starting the conversation at home. Hosted by Milouska Meulens, the evening focuses specifically on awareness and action: what can you do as a parent if your child feels excluded online?

With the National Online Parents' Evening, KPN is drawing attention to the impact of online exclusion. With the #BetterInternet campaign Everyone except KPN put online exclusion on the social agenda. The S10 song "Buutvrij," which focuses on the loneliness of online exclusion, generated a lot of attention. "As a Dutch network, we feel a responsibility not only to provide technology but also to contribute to a more social internet," says Marieke Snoep of KPN. "With this parent evening, we help parents and caregivers better understand what their children are experiencing online and to start a conversation, especially when someone withdraws."

How was your day online?

With the National Online Parents' Evening, KPN wants to encourage parents and caregivers to pay regular attention to their children's online lives. Because only when adults also ask, "How was your day online?" will there be room for understanding, support, and connection, both online and offline.

More information about the National Online Parents' Evening can be found via www.kpn.com/ouderavond