The impact of financial deprivation on children’s cybersecurity knowledge & abilities

Abstract

Online users require a working knowledge of password “best practice”, as well as the ability to apply such knowledge. Children increasingly operate as independent agents online, and thus also need to be aware of password “best practice”. To meet this need, the Scottish curriculum for excellence includes lessons about password “best practice”. Hence, all Scottish children ought, theoretically, to have similar levels of password-related knowledge. They ought also, by age 8-9, to be able to apply their knowledge. One factor that could deter password-related knowledge acquisition and skill development is financial deprivation. To gauge its impact, we assessed the knowledge and abilities of Scottish 8-9 year old children, in four primary schools, in areas of varying financial deprivation. We uncovered stark differences in knowledge and password retention. There is a clear need for an extra-curricular intervention programme to teach up-to-date password “best practice” and support in developing the required password management skills. This will reduce their online vulnerabilities, whatever their socio-economic background.

Who Is Best Placed to Support Cyber Responsibilized UK Parents?

“…UK parents' inability to fulfil their stateassigned and willingly accepted responsibility to educate their children about cybersecurity is likely to result in the unwitting dissemination of incorrect and outdated advice. This, in turn, will result in the widening of the cybersecurity divide [30]. Parents might not be aware of this situation, and even if they are aware, might well choose not to confront it or actively seek to improve their cybersecurity knowledge.…”

“…Cybersecurity education is indeed included in primary school curricula, but the topics and approaches to teaching these vary, depending on the educational authority [38]. Moreover, childhood deprivation has a deleterious impact on how well children learn these principles at school [30].…”

“…In another study, it emerged that a third of parents sought cybersecurity advice from their own friends and family [22]. However, given the general lack of cybersecurity knowledge across the UK population [22], this might well lead to incorrect advice spreading throughout the community, which may further widen the cyber divide discussed in [30].…”