The study is conducted by Save the Children Bolivia, ChildFund Bolivia and the Behavioural Science Research Institute (IICC) of the Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”.
Aims and focus of the study
- Review existing literature concerning ICT usage among adolescents in Bolivia and Latin America, including associated risks and opportunities, with a particular focus on gender analysis.
- Identify and systematise the current regulatory framework, public policies, legislative tools, plans, and guidelines concerning digital violence at the national level and analyse their alignment with international law.
- Identify and quantify the primary risks and opportunities linked to ICT use among adolescents nationally.
- Conduct in-depth exploration into adolescents’ experiences, perceptions, and interpretations of risks and opportunities associated with ICT usage.
- Identify various forms of digital violence experienced by adolescents and assess their potential impacts on wellbeing.
- Identify gaps in the child protection system and education system regarding prevention and response to digital violence and the enhancement of digital skills.
The Bolivian context
Fixed internet access in Bolivia stands at 56%, while mobile internet penetration is considerably higher, reaching 90% of the population in 2023. Data on internet usage among children and adolescents is extrapolated from household survey data. There is no available data regarding the prevalence of digital violence against children and adolescents. Specialised legislation addressing digital violence against children and adolescents is currently absent.
Methodology
The study will use a mixed method approach.
The quantitative study will use a face-to-face survey methodology will be applied, with a territorial and stratified approach to a population consisting of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years old who use digital devices and, in the three months prior to the survey, have accessed the internet at least once. Data collection will be conducted nationwide, covering all urban municipalities in the country, with a total of 1200 participants divided into two strata: large municipalities, with a population of over 250,000 inhabitants; and intermediate municipalities, with a population between 125,000 and 250,000 inhabitants. A simple random sampling without replacement will be employed, ensuring representativeness at the stratum level. With a total of 1200 cases evenly distributed with 600 in each stratum, we aim to ensure a confidence level of 95%.
In the qualitative component, a total of 32 focus groups will be conducted with children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 who have used the internet in the last three months prior to the research, drawn from two large municipalities and two medium-sized municipalities. The focus groups will be divided according to age groups (11 to 12 years, 13 to 14 years, 15 to 16 years, and 17 years) and gender (males and females). Additionally, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with teachers and parents.
Project team
The project team consists of: Marcela Losantos Velasco, Jazmín Mazó Torrico, Andrés Villalobos Guzmán, Manuela Narayani Rivera, Silvana Camacho Urquizo (Behavioural Science Research Institute (IICC), Jimena Tito Rosquellas (Save the Children), and Paricia Monje Cuadrado (Child Fund).
