Research updates

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.

Children and the internet: new findings from Ghana

23rd October 2018

UNICEF Ghana is launching its new report on children’s experiences online as part of the National Cyber Security Month Campaign by the First Lady of Ghana. Key findings are that the internet offers important learning, socialising, and entertainment opportunities for children, but important gaps remain related to online access, digital skills, and parental support. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Research on teachers’ internet use in Montenegro

7th June 2018

Global Kids Online research conducted with children and parents in Montenegro in 2016 indicated that schools need to become leaders in the process of preparing the future digital citizens. UNICEF Montenegro, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Ipsos, is currently piloting a survey on teachers’ internet use, skills, and practices which will help to develop digital literacy education in Montenegrin schools.

Kids Online Uruguay: key findings from the new study

3rd May 2018

New findings from Global Kids Online in Uruguay are launched today by UNICEF, Plan Ceibal, AGESIC, Universidad Católica del Uruguay, and UNESCO. Uruguay has witnessed significant advances in the spread of internet connectivity in recent years as a result of public policies for digital inclusion. The study further advances the knowledge about Uruguayan children’s engagement with the digital environment.

New research on children’s internet use in Albania

26th March 2018

Albania is the latest country to join the Global Kids Online network in 2018. UNICEF Albania is commencing the new research on children’s experiences of internet use as part of its strategic intervention to tackle online child sexual exploitation, supported by the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children. The research comprises a national home-based survey of 1,000 children and young people and one of their caregivers, as well as a qualitative component exploring the internet experiences of children without parental care and those with disabilities.