Towards a cyber safety information framework for South African parents

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the need for a structured approach to the education of parents regarding cyber safety threats. The researcher has been approached by a service provider, EduX, which works with schools to facilitate digital learning. Edu X has expressed the need to provide cyber safety information for parents from the schools where their solution is implemented. This research suggests a Cyber Safety Information Framework for South African parents, tailored to their specific needs. The Design Science Research Methodology was followed to develop the framework through one main cycle and two sub-cycles. The framework includes different dimensions of the parents’ needs. A Cyber Safety Information Needs Assesment Instrument was developed and tested to tailor these dimensions to a specific school. In addition, a categorisation (or catalogue) of existing cyber safety online material to be used by schools, was developed. The evaluation of this framework was done by designing a prototype of an application to be used by schools to determine its implementation based on the outcome of the needs assessment instrument, the relevant cyber safety content, the way to present the material, as well as the best time to present it. This prototype was demonstrated to a potential user from EduX, and the framework was refined and updated based on the feedback received.