Research updates

Sexually exploitative practices against children

18th July 2024

The UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children has recently invited stakeholders to contribute to a report exploring the existing and emerging sexually exploitative practices and abuse against children in the digital environment. Drawing on primary data from the Disrupting Harm project’s survey with 12-17-year-olds across several countries, Global Kids Online provided input on the how technologies are being used to facilitate the sexual exploitation and abuse of children, and offer practical recommendations for making child online safety a reality.

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.

Children’s participation in digital policy-making

2nd December 2022

A fundamental pillar to realise the rights of every child both in the online and offline space is the meaningful participation of all children, especially of those most vulnerable. The Government of Zimbabwe has sought to operationalise the child rights principles in the development of a policy framework and implementation tools to ensure a child rights-centered approach to online safety.

Implementing child rights online: a Global Kids Online webinar

21st November 2022

With children’s experiences of online risk of harm often in the headlines, we urgently need new rigorous comparative research that’s impactful and can promote children’s rights in the digital world. Global Kids Online and Disrupting Harm organised a webinar on Implementing child rights online: new cross-national evidence to guide policy. You can now watch the recording of the event.

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.