Research updates

Online on the phone: Czech children’s internet use

5th August 2019

A survey of 2,825 Czech children showed that 84% access the internet daily using their mobile phones and only 45% use a computer. Even the youngest children aged 9 to 10 years use predominantly their phones to go online (64% use it daily), while 29% of all children say that they are online on their mobile ‘almost all the time’. How does this affect their experiences and exposure to risk?

Using Global Kids Online evidence to build global understanding and action

18th July 2019

A recent Global Kids Online network meeting gathered 45 experts and practitioners from 27 countries to discuss the advancement of child rights and online protection drawing on existing and new research evidence by the network partners. We are following up with a webinar on impact and the lessons learned on how to use the evidence to build global understanding and action (Tuesday 23rd July, registration open).

Costa Rica: highlights from the new research

15th July 2019

A new study on children’s internet use in Costa Rica was conducted by the University of Costa Rica and the Paniamor Foundation. The nationally representative survey with 1,008 children and their parents found important digital divides related to access, opportunities and skills. Using mobile phones for learning at school and receiving enabling mediation from parents can improve children’s digital skills and access to online opportunities.

Global Kids Online India

9th May 2019

India is the latest country to join the Global Kids Online network and carry out research on children’s internet use. With a population of 247 million children aged 9 to 17 years old, India can provide important evidence on children’s experiences in South Asia. The research will be carried out by the Centre for Development management and Communication, MICA, (Ahmedabad) and will initially focus on the state of Gujarat.

How do Norwegian children understand the internet?

5th March 2019

While children in Norway are often referred to as ‘digital natives’, new research by EU Kids Online suggests that this is an inappropriate term. It discovered that, although children often understand concepts related to the internet, they can’t always apply the practical skills related to those concepts. The findings suggest that children may need more support online.

A ladder of children’s online participation?

18th February 2019

Findings on the online activities of children in Bulgaria, Chile and South Africa suggests a ‘ladder’ of online participation. Many children, especially younger ones, enjoy some of the fun and sociable opportunities that the internet provides, but do not climb the ‘ladder’ to reach the civic, informational and creative activities that are often heralded as crucial opportunities of the digital age.

2018: more research, new findings and further impact

20th December 2018

With new findings from Brazil, Ghana and Uruguay emerging during the year, Global Kids Online has now surveyed over 15,000 children and 12,000 of their carers since 2016, continuing to emphasise the important role of children as active agents in the global digital environment. With new research in Albania, Canada, Montenegro, New Zealand and the Philippines underway, as well as research impact assessments in four Global Kids Online countries, the quest for expanding the evidence base continues.

Developing an impact case study of Global Kids Online

12th December 2018

UNICEF-Innocenti and LSE commissioned an independently-verified impact case study of the Global Kids Online network aiming to validate early emerging impact claims. Commencing in November 2018, the study draws on in-depth evidence from four research sites in Argentina, Bulgaria, Ghana and Uruguay, as well as a review of the activities of the whole network.

Brazilian findings: more children read online news

26th November 2018

The Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) launched the results of the sixth ICT Kids Online Brazil survey. The results show that more children are now online (85% of children aged 9 to 17 years), they mostly use a mobile phone to access the internet (93%), and receive more parental guidance on safe internet use. The new survey explores for the first time children’s civic participation discovering that over 1 in 10 children use the internet to discuss politics and problems in their city or country.