Parents’ Awareness on Online Predators: Cyber Grooming Deterrence
Open accessAbstract
The rapid increase of information and communications technology is manifested by its tremendous positive outcomes on the economy, business, and society. However, online application use by adolescents, especially mobile technology, has caused uneasiness among parents owing to cyber grooming incidents. This study reflects on the current cyber grooming situation. Investigating the current state of online grooming and the means through which parents can ensure the online safety of their adolescents from adults offering “candy” or wanting to start a relationship is necessary. Teen behavior related scholars believe that parents play a vital role in building safe environments. We conducted a qualitative study by interviewing 19 parents with children between the ages of 13 and 17 years in an urban setting to determine the level of the parents’ awareness. Interviews were conducted based on five key components, namely, social media, unknown friends, sex education, private chats, and family time. The results present the actual situations of the parents and highlight related challenges as well as adolescents’ ignorance and vulnerability to cyber grooming. Results are mapped to three main determinants of cyber grooming, namely, parental factors, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. We conclude with insights and recommendations for parents, schools, and the government to be vigilant for online predators by increasing awareness of cyber grooming.
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Teens face cybergrooming risks irrespective of their gender.
“This decision aligns with research showing that teens face cybergrooming risks irrespective of their gender [30].”
From From Vulnerable to Resilient: Examining Parent and Teen Perceptions on How to Respond to Unwanted Cybergrooming Advances (2026) · cites this paper as [30]
Parental involvement plays a crucial protective role in safeguarding adolescents from the risks and threats of online grooming behavior.
“In facing this challenge, parental involvement plays a crucial protective role in safeguarding adolescents from the risks and threats of online grooming behavior (Dorasamy et al., 2021).”
From Surfing Online Safety: Assertiveness and Parental Involvement in Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Cyber Grooming (2025) · cites this paper as Dorasamy et al., 2021
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
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“This decision aligns with research showing that teens face cybergrooming risks irrespective of their gender [30].”
- Authors
- Dorasamy, M., Kaliannan, M., Jambulingam, M., Ramadhan, I., & Sivaji, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Dorasamy, Magiswary
- Kaliannan, Maniam
- Jambulingam, Manimekalai
- Ramadhan, Iqbal
- Sivaji, Ashok
- Venue
- The Qualitative Report
- Publisher
- Nova Southeastern University
- Published
- 2021
- ISSN
- 1052-0147 (ISSN-L)
- 2160-3715
- OpenAlex
- W3215539387
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3
- FWCI
- 2.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-sa
- Locations
- The Qualitative Report (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Siti Hasmah Digital Library-MMU Institutiona Repository (Multimedia University) (acceptedVersion)
- NSUWorks (Nova Southeastern University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies
- Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- online grooming, online predators, parental awareness, social media, sex education, family time, self-efficacy, self-regulation, parental factors
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