Research results

Kazakhstan Kids Online

2nd December 2024

The Kazakhstan Kids Online study is a pioneering effort to deepen understanding of children’s use of digital technology in Kazakhstan. Conducted in 2023, this national research study engaged children, caregivers, and teachers and represents the latest addition to the Global Kids Online network. The study explores the extent and nature of children’s digital engagement, the opportunities and benefits the internet offers, children’s experiences of online risks and harms, and the strategies used to mitigate these. In doing so, the study contributes to fulfilling the mandate of the UNCRC General Comment No. 25 on children’s rights in the digital environment.

Unveiling digital disparities in Costa Rica

12th February 2024

The latest Global Kids Online survey was conducted in Costa Rica in 2023 and provides a revealing snapshot of the digital experiences of children in the country. The summary of preliminary findings from 1,200 children aged 9 to 17 years paints a nuanced picture of digital inequality, altered device usage patterns, and risky online experiences.

Hate messages and violent images online

12th January 2024

In an era where internet connectivity is rapidly expanding around the globe, our new research brief published by UNICEF Innocenti sheds light on the issue of children’s exposure to hate messages and violent images online. Efforts to mitigate exposure to such content are gaining momentum but the findings underscore the need for rapid changes that directly address the digital platforms where children encounter hate messages and violent images.

Children connected – new findings from Uruguay

9th January 2024

Global Kids Online Uruguay has released the findings from its new study on children’s internet use, based on an online school-based survey with 7,822 children aged between 9 and 17 years, as well as their parents/guardians and teachers. The findings show that children see the internet as a realm filled with possibilities and positive experiences, acknowledging the potential risks. Parents are more concerned about problematic usage and self-regulation.

The digital lives of Australia’s First Nations children

15th June 2023

A recent report by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) has found the internet plays a vital role in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, enabling them to form important cultural and social connections with friends and family. However, the report also shows that First Nations children are much more likely than the national average to have been treated in a hurtful or nasty way online, experiences that can lead to impaired mental health, perceived reputation damage and lower school performance.

New findings from Kids Online Chile

9th May 2023

Five years after their first survey on children’s internet use, Kids Online Chile recently launched their new findings. We see closing gaps in internet access, inequalities in digital skills, greater levels of parental support, and young people’s enthusiasm for online activities, including informal learning.

Three in ten children in Brazil look for mental health and well-being information online

16th August 2022

The 8th edition of the ICT Kids Online Brazil survey is launched today by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br). Drawing on a nationally representative survey with 2, 651 children aged 9 to 17 and one of their parents, the Brazilian study is the longest-running in the Global Kids Online network with annual waves since 2012. A new addition to the survey this year was collecting data on the use of the internet for health information and emotional support.

Online sexual exploitation and abuse: new findings

1st June 2022

Protecting children from online sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) has been at the forefront of international efforts over the past week. The WePROTECT Global Summit in Brussels gathered more than 400 delegates from industry, government, civil society and international organisations coming together with the aim to strengthen the global response to OCSEA. The misuse of the internet and digital technologies to sexually abuse and exploit children is a rapidly growing issue that knows no borders. Yet, evidence on the nature and scale of the problem remains limited.

Children’s experiences of risks online in Zambia

9th May 2022

Like children in many parts of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected the lives of children in Zambia, with many moving online for many of their daily activities and simply spending more time online. While there is no reliable data on the degree to which children were using the internet and technology before the pandemic, the recent Zambia Kids Online study undertaken across several sites within Zambia has provided some insight into children’s online experiences, both positive and negative.