Parental Perceptions of Once’s Own Agency in Digital Parenting: An Analysis of Experiences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/SPI.2026.1.002Keywords
parental agency, digital parenting, parental media competence, digital childhood, parent–child relationship onlineAbstract
The widespread presence of digital technologies in children’s lives confronts parents with new educational challenges that require a sense of influence and effectiveness in shaping responsible media practices. Understanding how parents perceive their own agency helps identify their needs, barriers, and strategies.
The aim of the study was to reconstruct how parents of children aged 9–11 perceive their own agency in the area of digital parenting, understood as a subjective assessment of their effectiveness in carrying out educational tasks in the child’s digital environment. The research was conducted within a qualitative framework using individual in-depth interviews with eighteen parents. The material was analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis.
Parents describe their agency through the roles of controller, guide, companion, and “the bad one.” Their sense of agency is strengthened by a close parent–child relationship, consistency, and maintaining an online–offline balance. Its limits appear in the absence of social support, limited digital competence, or fatigue resulting from constant responsibility and monitoring. Parental agency in digital upbringing is relational and dynamic. It stems not only from stable competencies but also from the ability to navigate a complex digital environment. It involves tension between protecting the child and respecting their autonomy. Parents need not only technical tools but also support in developing their educational role through stronger relationships, media education, and communities that facilitate consistent action.
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