Page No 302-312
Priyanka S and D. V. Nithyanandan
Periyar University, Salem
Alarming statistics from organizations like Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
(OCSEA) indicate a significant prevalence of children being approached by strangers
online, a precursor to Online Child Sexual Abuse (OCSA). Recognizing the urgent
need for preventative measures, this study investigated the influence of parenting styles
on children’s vulnerability to online grooming by predators on social media platforms. A
quantitative analysis was conducted among 386 school children aged 10-19 years
from diverse schools and syllabi in Bangalore. Data were collected using the Parental
Authority Questionnaire and the Multidimensional Online Grooming Questionnaire. Both
correlation and regression analysis revealed authoritarian parenting as a significant
predictor in increasing the children’s susceptibility to online grooming. Therefore, a
key strategy for preventing OCSA involves enhancing parental awareness regarding
positive parenting styles and equipping them with effective strategies to navigate the
challenges their children face in online media