Parents concerned about rising trend of ‘Facebook parties'

The cost of teenage parties is hitting UK parents hard with new research showing they are picking up a total bill of £14million as a result of the damage caused at house parties. As the New Year party season approaches, the findings from Allianz Insurance highlight that parents are increasingly concerned that teenage parties are now more likely to get out of control than when they were teens themselves.

Social Celebrations
Parents admit that they are uncomfortable with their teenagers arranging their social lives on websites such as Facebook and Bebo, with two thirds (65%) believing that advertising parties on social networking websites can be dangerous.  Parents have a reason to be concerned according to the research, at least one in 10 (11%) teenagers have organised a party via a social networking website.

If teenagers are trying to be sneakier about their party antics it may be wise for them to stay away from social networking websites as over a third (35%) of parents admit they snoop on their teenagers' social networking activity to spot for parties being organised.

Gareth McChesney, Head of Home and Motor Portfolio Management, Allianz UK, said: "Parents face tough decisions when allowing their children to host a party and it is natural to worry about the celebrations getting out of hand. However if things do go wrong, it is important to have financial protection in place to pick up any bills for damage caused."

Costly Teens
Nearly a fifth (17%) of parents have claimed on their home contents or building insurance for accidents caused at a teenage party with £117.13 being the average cost of repairs. The findings also revealed that nearly three quarters (71%) of people do not believe they are covered for damaged caused at parties by their home insurance policy.

Parents have cited the most common damage that has happened as a result of a teenage party as:

General rubbish and mess
Broken furniture
Trampled garden and plants
Stains to carpets
Burns to upholstery

The research also found that adults are likely to cause almost as much damage as teenagers at parties, with the average cost amounting to £92.80 and one in ten (11%) admitting to causing damage.

Party Pooper Parents
In a bid to stop parties getting too out of hand, over a third (36%) of parents would betray other teenagers to their parents if they were hosting a party and a nearly a third (29%) would call the police if a party was getting out of hand on their street.  Despite their reservations, only three in ten (31%) would stop their teenagers going to a party if they feared the homeowners didn't know about it.