Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Full Findings
Report
May 2014
www.netchildrengomobile.eu
Contents
1 introduction .................................................. 6
1.1 Context ................................................................6
1.2 The policy agenda .............................................7
1.3 The project ..........................................................8
1.4 Framework and methodology ........................9
1.5 This report........................................................ 10
2. Access and use.......................................... 11
2.1 Where children use the internet .................. 11
2.2 How children access the internet................ 15
2.3 Ownership........................................................ 18
2.4 Age of first use ................................................. 21
2.5 Parental uses of the internet, smartphones
and tablets ............................................................. 23
3. Online activities ....................................... 25
3.1 Types of online activities .............................. 25
3.2. Smartphone users ......................................... 27
3.3 Tablet users ..................................................... 28
3.4 Social networking and media sharing
platforms ................................................................ 29
4. Communication practices ....................... 35
4.1 Nature of childrens SNS contacts .............. 35
4.2 SNS privacy settings ...................................... 38
4.3 Different media for different contacts ........ 40
4.4 Childrens approach to online
communication .................................................... 45
5. Skills ..........................................................47
5.1 Self-confidence ............................................... 47
5.2 Skills and competences related to internet
use in general ........................................................ 51
5.3 Skills related to smartphones and tablets 54
5.4 Average number of skills ............................... 55
6. Risk and harm .......................................... 58
6.1 Overall perception of risk and harm ........... 58
6.2 Bullying............................................................. 61
6.3 Sexual messages ............................................ 65
6.4 Meeting new people ...................................... 67
6.5 Sexual images ................................................. 72
6.6 Other inappropriate content ........................ 75
6.7 Other risks ........................................................ 76
6.8 Responding to risks ....................................... 76
Net Children Go Mobile: Risks and Opportunities
1 Introduction
1.1 Context
Both childhood and the media environment are
changing and co-determining each other
(Livingstone, 2009). Children are growing up in a
convergent media ecology (Ito et al., 2009),
whereby significant opportunities for sociability,
self-expression,
learning,
creativity
and
participation are provided by online media and
increasingly, mobile media (Hjorth & Goggin, 2009;
Goggin, 2010; Goggin & Hjorth, 2014). However,
children may also experience risks on the internet:
since 2006, the EU Kids Online network has
investigated online opportunities and risks for
children,
showing
their
interdependence
(Livingstone et al., 2011): the more children use the
internet, the wider range of opportunities taken up,
the more they are exposed to risky experiences. The
changing conditions of internet access by means of
mobile media call for new research on children's
online experiences, opportunities and risks of the
mobile internet.
Although there is much current discussion of
mobile media, there is scope for different
definitions at this point in time as well as changing
definitions over time if, like the internet itself,
mobile media are a moving target as new
technologies and applications are continuously
developed. That said, any research project has to
define its object of study. Certainly, we would like to
differentiate between experiences of the internet
when it is accessed by PCs (including via laptops
and netbooks) and the online experiences when
accessed by portable devices that utilise different
operating systems (e.g. smartphones and tablets)
since these technological affordances can either
enable or hinder different practices.
Hence, when we speak of the mobile internet in
this project, we refer to access to the internet from
mobile media that is potentially different from a
PC-based online experience. The mobile media we
focus on are as follows:
See www.ictcoalition.eu
methodology
Drawing on the experience of network members
within the EU Kids Online network, the conceptual
framework is operationalised in a child-centred,
critical, contextual and comparative approach
(Livingstone & Haddon 2009; Livingstone et al.,
2011), which understands childrens online
experiences as contextualised and shaped by three
intersecting circles: 1) childhood, family life and
peer cultures; 2) media systems and technological
development; and 3) the European social and
policy context.
Accordingly the project assumes that the voice and
viewpoint of children is crucial to understanding
online opportunities, risks and any harmful
consequences of mobile-convergent media use. In
order to maximise the quality of childrens answers
and to ensure their privacy, the survey was
conducted face to face in the home, but sensitive
questions were self-completed by the child. The
wording of the questionnaire was refined on the
basis of cognitive testing with children of different
age groups and gender in each country, in order to
ensure childrens comprehension and to avoid
adults terminology (such as sexting). Furthermore,
particularly emotive terms, such as stranger or
bullying, were also avoided.
The combination of quantitative and qualitative
data will contribute to enhancing knowledge on
childrens uses of mobile-convergent media by
providing clear, representative and cross-nationally
comparable quantitative data, combined with indepth qualitative and comparative research on
childrens social awareness and perceptions of
mobile media risks. Moreover, the qualitative
fieldwork includes group interviews with parents,
teachers and other youth workers, in order to
compare childrens and adults perceptions and
awareness of mobile internet risks, and to provide
empirical data that can inform awareness-raising
initiatives and guide safety policies.
10
Own bedroom
29
26
11
34
24
36
21
19
At school
13
34
45
11
31
51
10
75
Never or
almost never
Daily or
almost daily
Several times
each day
11
% Other places
% At school
% At home but
not own room
Boys
56
58
19
16
16
Girls
55
62
22
19
18
9-10
26
43
11-12
45
59
16
10
13-14
67
67
23
24
21
15-16
78
68
34
28
33
Low SES
49
57
17
15
15
Medium
SES
63
55
22
20
19
High SES
57
70
25
19
19
All
55
60
21
17
17
Age
differences,
however,
are
more
pronounced for private and mobile internet
use, with teenagers aged 15-16 far more
likely to access the internet at least daily in
their own bedroom (78%) or when out and
about (33%) than any other age group. This
suggests that teenagers benefit from a
better online experience in terms of
flexibility, ubiquity and privacy.
12
% Other places
% At school
% At home but
not own room
% Own
bedroom
Belgium
38
67
11
11
Denmark
77
76
61
38
26
Ireland
46
63
11
Italy
58
52
18
30
Portugal
45
59
19
13
Romania
60
40
11
UK
64
63
29
22
32
All
55
60
21
17
17
Boys
22
Girls
77
9-10 yrs
56
16
11-12 yrs
73
23
13-14 yrs
88
34
15-16
yrs
17
Low SES
80
25
High SES
84
21
All
0
92
74
22
Medium SES
79
20
40
60
80
100
80
14
11
Belgium
76
61
Denmark
7
Ireland
73
Italy
81
19
Portugal
74
11
Romania
74
29
UK
21
All
0
94
79
79
20
40
60
80
100
At home but
not own room
At school
Other places
When
out and about
16
17
Laptop computer
30
30
Mobile phone
10
10
Smartphone
32
33
18
19
18
Tablet
15
18
E-book reader
Desktop
computer (PC)
31
26
42
30
33
Laptop computer
35
34
52
59
46
Mobile phone
that is not a
smartphone
10
13
16
21
15
Smartphone
24
25
54
58
41
A tablet
25
18
22
26
23
E-book reader
Other handheld
devices
13
11
Home games
consoles
21
21
13
55
60
21
17
17
Q2 a-h: When you use the internet these days at ..., how often do
you use the following devices to go online?
Base: All children who use the internet.
Girls
Girls
13-16 years
Boys
9-12 years
Boys
Own bedroom
All
Q2 a-h: When you use the internet these days at ..., how often do
you use the following devices to go online?
Base: All children who use the internet.
15
Boys
40
44
Girls
43
47
13
9-10 yrs
31
35
37
11-12 yrs
52
51
13-14 yrs
60
60
15-16 yrs
36
44
Low SES
Medium SES
45
49
High SES
46
46
All
41
46
0
20
40
60
80
100
Q2 b and Q2 d: When you use the internet these days at ..., how
often do you use the following devices to go online?
Base: All children who use the internet.
16
28
35
Belgium
72
70
Denmark
35
28
Ireland
42
51
Italy
35
Portugal
60
21
28
Romania
56
47
UK
41
46
All
0
20
40
60
80
100
Q2 b and Q2 d: When you use the internet these days at ..., how
often do you use the following devices to go online?
Base: All children who use the internet.
17
% free wifi
only
% phone
does not
connect to
the internet
% mobile
internet plan
only
% mobile
internet plan
and free wifi
Boys
29
14
33
24
Girls
25
17
36
22
9-10
14
36
41
11-12
23
14
35
28
13-14
27
16
39
18
15-16
33
17
31
19
Low SES
21
19
34
26
Medium
SES
29
13
34
24
High SES
31
14
35
20
All
27
15
35
23
% free wifi
only
% phone
does not
connect to
the internet
% mobile
internet plan
only
% mobile
internet plan
and free wifi
Belgium
20
50
22
Denmark
51
14
28
Ireland
74
14
Italy
32
24
18
26
Portugal
10
11
47
32
Romania
15
24
20
41
UK
41
17
18
24
All
27
15
35
23
18
2.3 Ownership
The use of a device and ownership do not
necessarily coincide, with children having access
to a wider range of devices than those they
actually own or have for private use. However,
ownership and private use shape the quality of
online experience, with children owning a certain
device being more likely to use it intensively
throughout the day.
Table 8 shows which devices children own or have
for private use, and how ownership varies by age
and gender.
Similarly,
smartphone
ownership
is
considerably higher among children from
more advantaged social backgrounds
(55%), than those from lower SES (38%).
Girls
13-16 years
Girls
Boys
9-12 years
All
Desktop
computer (PC)
20
23
30
21
24
Laptop
computer
31
35
47
55
43
Mobile phone
that is not a
smartphone
28
31
35
35
33
Smartphone
30
32
60
59
46
Tablet
15
20
21
24
20
E-book reader
Other handheld
devices
14
10
16
16
14
Home games
consoles
43
25
50
18
34
Q3 a-h: Do you personally own or have for your private use any
of these devices? (By private use of a device we mean a device
that only you use.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
19
Boys
22
Girls
% Own a smartphone
21
11-12 yrs
16
Low SES
22
Medium SES
20
All
0
55
40
60
80
58
46
20
40
60
80
100
Q3 a-h: Do you personally own or have for your private use any
of these devices? (By private use of a device we mean a device
that only you use.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
46
20
26
20
All
50
34
29
UK
38
25
High SES
10
Romania
64
40
45
20
Portugal
55
84
10
Italy
40
21
15-16 yrs
27
Ireland
25
13-14 yrs
22
Denmark
46
13
20
9-10 yrs
24
35
Belgium
46
% Own a smartphone
100
Q3 a-h: Do you personally own or have for your private use any
of these devices? (By private use of a device we mean a device
that only you use.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
of
20
given
locations).
Own
Use daily
13-16 years
Own
9-12 years
Desktop computer
(PC)
21
29
25
36
Laptop computer
33
34
51
56
29
11
35
19
Smartphone
31
25
60
56
Tablet
17
21
23
24
E-book reader
Other handheld
devices
12
16
12
Home games
consoles
34
13
34
13
Q3 a-h: Do you personally own or have for your private use any
of these devices? (By private use of a device we mean a device
that only you use.)
Q2 a-h: When you use the internet these days at ..., how often do
you use the following devices to go online?
Base: All children who use the internet.
Got a
smartphone
the
Got a mobile
phone
of
Used the
internet
any
Boys
8,2
9,5
11,9
Girls
8,7
9,5
12,0
9-10
7,0
7,9
8,4
11-12
7,9
9,1
10,6
13-14
9,0
9,8
11,9
15-16
9,7
10,4
13,8
Low SES
9,0
9,5
12,0
Medium
SES
8,3
9,5
12,2
High SES
7,7
9,5
11,7
All
8,5
9,5
12,0
Q5: How old were you when you first used the internet?
Q6: How old were you when you got your first mobile phone (a
phone which is not a smartphone)?
Q7: How old were you when you got your first smartphone?
Base: All children who use the internet.
21
Got smartphone
20
15
10
14
9 10
15-16 yrs
13-14 yrs
8 9
11
8
7 8
11-12 yrs
9-10 yrs
Q5: How old were you when you first used the internet?
Q6: How old were you when you got your first mobile phone (a
phone which is not a smartphone)?
Q7: How old were you when you got your first smartphone
Base: All children who use the internet.
Belgium
8,8
10,8
13,0
Denmark
6,6
8,5
11,1
Ireland
8,6
9,7
11,7
Italy
9,5
9,9
12,2
Portugal
8,6
9,2
12,3
Romania
9,1
9,1
12,4
UK
7,9
9,9
12,3
All
8,5
9,5
12,0
Q5: How old were you when you first used the internet?
Q6: How old were you when you got your first mobile phone (a
phone which is not a smartphone)?
Q7: How old were you when you got your first smartphone?
Base: All children who use the internet.
22
12
10 10
Got a
smartphone
Got a mobile
phone
Used the
internet
Belgium
55
89
Denmark
71
Ireland
30
Portugal
18
Romania
99
91
48
Italy
89
68
57
75
UK
53
All
Desktop computer
(PC)
17
31
21
35
Laptop computer
48
37
44
36
Mobile phone
28
38
31
44
Smartphone
58
33
49
29
Tablet
27
13
22
13
E-book reader
Other handheld
devices
20
16
Home games
consoles
41
26
36
22
85
77
No
Mothers
54
87
Yes
55
No
Fathers
96
84
50
100
Yes
Q3 a-h: Do you personally own or have for your private use any
of these devices? (By private use of a device we mean a device
that only you use.)
P2: Do you personally use the internet?
P3: Do you personally own a smartphone or a tablet PC that you
use to connect to the internet?
Base: All children who use the internet and one of their parents.
23
24
Girls
Boys
13-16 years
Girls
9-12 years
Boys
3. Online activities
All
Listened to music
37
36
66
71
53
43
34
64
68
53
Visited a social
networking profile
29
26
71
78
53
Used instant
messaging
21
22
57
60
41
Checked information
to satisfy a curiosity
18
16
39
48
31
40
21
45
18
31
18
16
34
44
29
30
15
44
15
26
Downloaded music or
films
13
25
34
21
Watched broadcast
television / movie
online
14
12
28
26
20
14
11
27
26
20
Published photos,
videos or music to
share with others
20
30
17
Visited a chatroom
12
19
25
16
Read/watched the
news on the internet
20
23
14
Published a message
on a website or a blog
15
20
12
Registered my
geographical location
12
15
12
14
Used a webcam
12
11
Looked up maps /
timetables
Created a character,
pet or avatar
Read an ebook
Purchasing apps
25
Read QR codes/scan
barcodes
Q9a-d, 10a-e, 11a-e, 12a-k: For each of the things I read out,
please tell me how often you have done it in the past month.
Base: All children who use the internet.
2013 and 2010 (EU Kids Online survey data for the
seven countries).
Table 14: Online activities done at least once in
8
the past month
2010
(seven
countries)
20132014
80
85
83
76
63
71
83
67
65
58
45
48
37
47
45
46
30
33
27
31
Used a webcam
33
27
% who...
Q9a-d, 10a-e, 11a-e, 12a-k: For each of the things I read out,
please tell me how often you have done it in the past month.
EU Kids Online QC102: How often have you played internet
games in the past 12 months? QC306a-d, QC308a-f and QC311af: Which of the following things have you done in the past month
on the internet? (Multiple responses allowed.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
26
9-12 years
13-16 years
All*
S-ph user
Non-user
S-ph user
Non-user
(users
and
nonusers)
Listened to music
29
57
51
81
53
33
56
55
74
53
Visited a social
networking profile
19
53
59
87
53
Used instant
messaging
15
43
40
73
41
Checked information
to satisfy a curiosity
13
29
32
53
31
28
40
26
35
31
13
28
29
48
29
18
36
26
32
26
Downloaded music or
films
15
17
40
21
Watched broadcast
television / movie
online
26
16
35
20
29
12
37
20
Published photos,
videos or music to
share with others
15
14
33
17
Visited a chatroom
18
15
27
16
Read/watched the
news on the internet
17
26
14
Published a message
on a website or a blog
11
10
24
12
Registered my
geographical location
11
10
16
10
20
Used a webcam
11
12
10
Looked up maps /
timetables
10
Created a character,
pet or avatar
Read an ebook
Purchasing apps
Read QR codes/scan
barcodes
Q9a-d, 10a-e, 11a-e, 12a-k: For each of the things I read out,
please tell me how often you have done it in the past month.
Base: All children who use the internet.
* The 'All' values here refer to the average number of children
who are internet users and do a certain activity on a daily basis
(as shown in Table 13).
27
28
Tabl et
user
13-16 years
Non-user
Tabl et
user
Non-user
9-12 years
All*
(users
and
nonusers)
Listened to music
31
55
64
81
53
34
54
63
72
53
Visited a social
networking profile
25
36
71
86
53
18
34
53
74
41
Checked information to
satisfy a curiosity
14
28
42
48
31
26
47
29
37
31
15
24
35
53
29
19
33
27
35
26
Downloaded music or
films
12
26
39
21
Watched broadcast
television / movie
online
11
20
23
39
20
10
21
20
45
20
Published photos,
videos or music to share
with others
10
22
33
17
Visited a chatroom
12
18
31
16
21
25
14
Published a message
on a website or a blog
16
20
12
Registered my
geographical location
12
17
10
22
Used a webcam
16
12
10
Looked up maps /
timetables
11
Read an ebook
Purchasing apps
Read QR codes/scan
barcodes
Q9a-d, 10a-e, 11a-e, 12a-k: For each of the things I read out,
please tell me how often you have done it in the past month.
Base: All children who use the internet.
* The 'All' values here refer to the average number of children
who are internet users and do a certain activity on a daily basis
(as shown in Table 13).
69
Girls
67
9-10 yrs
27
11-12 yrs
60
13-14 yrs
84
15-16 yrs
Boys
93
Low SES
69
Medium SES
71
High SES
64
All
68
20
40
60
80
100
Q16 a-f: Do you have your own profile on a SNS (e.g. Facebook,
Twitter, etc.) that you currently use and if you have a
profile/account, do you have just one or more than one?
Base: All children who use the internet.
29
country.
Figure 10: Children (%) with a SNS profile, by
country
66#
Belgium#
Denmark#
81#
54#
Ireland#
Italy#
64#
Portugal#
76#
Romania#
79#
11-12 years
13-14 years
15-16 years
58#
UK#
Belgium
22
55
75
92
Denmark
41
81
98
99
Ireland
14
39
83
91
Italy
15
52
90
93
Portugal
26
80
88
98
Romania
50
80
86
92
UK
19
35
73
88
All
27
60
84
93
68#
All#
%
0#
20#
40#
60#
80#
100#
Q16 a-f: Do you have your own profile on a SNS (e.g. Facebook,
Twitter, etc.) that you currently use and if you have a
profile/account, do you have just one or more than one?
Base: All children who use the internet.
30
Q16 a-f: Do you have your own profile on a SNS (e.g. Facebook,
Twitter, etc.) that you currently use and if you have a
profile/account, do you have just one or more than one?
Base: All children who use the internet.
Boys
29
34
Denmark
Girls
58
33
Ireland
9-10 yrs
36
10
Italy
11-12 yrs
17
27
Portugal
13-14 yrs
32
39
Romania
15-16 yrs
24
52
UK
Low SES
30
Medium SES
31
37
All
33
0
High
SES
40
All
33
20
40
60
80
100
20
40
60
80
100
31
%
Facebook
Boys
% other
Belgium
86
2 12
Denmark
89
2 9
56
89
Ireland
9-10 yrs
Italy
96
22
Portugal
97
21
Romania
99
01
54
91
15-16 yrs
73
91
UK
Low SES
75
All
90
0
8 9
83
All
55
90
20
40
60
80
55
20
40
60
80
100
Q17: What social network is the profile/account that you use the
most on?
Base: All children who use SNS.
100
Q17: What social network is the profile/account that you use the
most on?
Base: All children who use SNS.
32
44
92
High SES
24
43
93
Medium SES
7 12
48
88
13-14 yrs
81
2 14
84
11-12 yrs
% other
64
90
Girls
% other
70
24
Boys
Girls
51
39
6
10
9-10 yrs
45
46
11-12 yrs
47
45
13-14 yrs
32
60
15-16 yrs
37
55
Low SES
67
Medium SES
58
High SES
All
20
10
37
40
60
8
37
55
23
53
39
80
49
43
Denmark
48
44
34
42
Italy
% other
Belgium
Ireland
100
24
65
Portugal
34
71
Romania
19
86
UK
51
55
0
20
10
14 0
49
All
37
40
60
8
80
100
34
4. Communication
practices
Online communication more specifically, social
networking (SNS) and instant messaging (IM) is on
the rise among children and adolescents. Staying in
touch with friends represents a great part of youths
online daily activities, as we have seen in Chapter 3.
Moreover, prior research has shown that social
access to peers is also the primary motivation for
adopting mobile communication, at least among
teenagers (Lenhart et al., 2010; Ling & Bertel, 2013).
What happens when access to SNS and instant
messaging services is provided on mobile phones,
and then, always at hand? The potential for
anywhere, anytime access to peers and
online contacts has renewed public concerns over
SNS, such as popular anxieties regarding the fragile
balance between privacy and intimacy, as well as
contact with people met online. Moreover,
smartphones expand the range of mobile
communicative practices and the type of audiences
children are now able to engage with (Bertel &
Stald, 2013). New questions has thus emerged
regarding the changing role of the mobile phone
and
the
potential
reconfiguration
of
communicative practices such as: can the mobile
phone still be considered as the tool for accessing
the full-time intimate sphere (Ling, 2008; Matsuda,
2005)?
35
22
Girls
28
9-10 yrs
27
13-14 yrs
25
15-16 yrs
23
Low SES
25
19
18
16
17
16
23
33
11-12 yrs
14
27
33
24
14
12
24
High SES
25
22
All
25
25
23
21
10
18
17
14
28
Medium
SES
72
17
25
24
25
16
19
24
14
19
19
18
Belgium
23
Denmark
51
Ireland
16
21
50
17
8 7 5
26
12 12 10
18
27
22
14
19
22
12
20
18
Portugal
24
Romania 2
19
22
100
36
15
16
Q18: Roughly how many people are you in contact with when
using [SNS profile that is used the most]?
Base: All children who use SNS.
27
29
40
Italy
15
28
UK
19
All
25
13
27
39
22
24
15
25
50
25
17
10
18
100
Q18: Roughly how many people are you in contact with when
using [SNS profile that is used the most]?
Base: All children who use SNS.
Other
%
10
Up to 10
23
40
51
11-50
24
32
30
51-100
15
13
101-300
19
17
Q18: Roughly how many people are you in contact with when
using [SNS profile that is used the most]?
Base: All children who use SNS.
37
12
Girls
9-10 yrs
14
23
25
48
17
49
18
36
13-14 yrs
15-16 yrs
10
Low SES
10
Medium
SES
High SES
24
54
All
24
49
18
49
25
27
51
29
22
42
11-12 yrs
49
46
28
50
13
Belgium
12
Denmark
11
Ireland
19
Italy
Portugal
22
48
15
14
18
Romania
100
38
55
21
73
23
UK
14
All
55
20
45
18
19
35
40
14
31
26
45
28
36
24
49
50
11
22
18
100
Boys
35
Girls
22
26
28
9-10 yrs
31
11-12 yrs
32
39
50
16
53
21
47
13-14 yrs
28
28
44
15-16 yrs
27
31
42
19
Denmark
Low
SES
35
23
28
27
19
All
29
30
44
15
26
59
45
33
32
48
27
Portugal
44
50
33
24
Romania
100
19
All
35
27
49
57
UK
26
Italy
High SES
57
42
Ireland
Medium
SES
24
20
29
29
23
52
27
44
50
100
10
11
14
10
12
Their school
44
52
69
70
63
62
65
29
28
39
Other
Twitter
Twitter
Public, so that
everyone can see
29
29
26
27
22
20
44
49
54
Girls
13-16 years
Boys
Girls
Boys
9-12 years
All
71
73
79
88
80
81
80
85
82
82
12
12
11
13
12
40
29
24
35
Sending emails
92
Contact on SNS
14
76
Q13, Q14, Q15, Q19: How often are you in contact with the
following people by talking on the mobile phone/smartphone,
by sending SMS/text or multimedia messages (MMS) with
pictures or videos from your mobile phone/smartphone, by
sending email, on all the SNS you use?
Base: All children who use each means of communication.
Never or almost
never
At least every
week
Daily or almost
daily
% of children in
contact with friends
by...
Several times
each day
Talking on a mobile or
smartphone
28
33
20
19
Sending texts
32
33
15
20
Sending emails
18
72
Contact on SNS
34
40
20
Q13, Q14, Q15, Q19: How often are you in contact with the
following people by talking on the mobile phone/smartphone,
by sending SMS/text or multimedia messages (MMS) with
pictures or videos from your mobile phone/smartphone, by
sending email, on all the SNS you use?
Base: All children who use each means of communication at all.
% of children in
contact with siblings
by...
Never or almost
never
12
Talking on a mobile or
smartphone
19
23
52
Sending texts
17
20
57
Sending emails
94
Contact on SNS
10
21
67
Q13, Q14, Q15, Q19: How often are you in contact with the
following people by talking on the mobile phone/smartphone,
by sending SMS/text or multimedia messages (MMS) with
pictures or videos from your mobile phone/smartphone, by
sending email, on all the SNS you use?
Base: All children who use each means of communication.
% of children in contact
with people met online
by...
Never or almost
never
Sending texts
At least every
week
19
At least every
week
24
Daily or almost
daily
38
Daily or almost
daily
19
Several times
each day
Talking on a mobile or
smartphone
Several times
each day
Never or almost
never
At least every
week
Daily or almost
daily
% of children in
contact with parents
by...
Several times
each day
Talking on a mobile or
smartphone
10
84
Sending texts
89
Sending emails
95
Contact on SNS
14
74
Q13, Q14, Q15, Q19: How often are you in contact with the
following people by talking on the mobile phone/smartphone,
by sending SMS/text or multimedia messages (MMS) with
pictures or videos from your mobile phone/smartphone, by
sending email, on all the SNS you use?
Base: All children who use each means of communication.
41
% Parents
% Friends
64
60
Girls
20
40
60
80
61
57
100
Q13: How often are you in contact with the following people by
talking on the mobile phone/smartphone?
Base: All children who use a phone or a smartphone.
42
56
All
61
57
All
72
UK
54
50
High SES
77
74
Romania
69
64
Medium SES
60
53
Portugal
60
58
Low SES
74
75
Italy
76
66
15-16 yrs
36
31
Ireland
70
60
13-14 yrs
58
66
Denmark
49
54
11-12 yrs
% Parents
54
50
Belgium
27
38
9-10 yrs
57
54
Boys
20
40
60
80
100
Q13: How often are you in contact with the following people by
talking on the mobile phone/smartphone?
Base: All children who use a phone or a smartphone.
32
25
11-12 yrs
41
13-14 yrs
71
46
9-10 yrs
60
37
Girls
% Parents
58
73
41
15-16 yrs
81
51
Low SES
40
Medium SES
46
High SES
39
All
41
20
66
69
63
66
40
60
80
100
Q14: How often are you in contact with the following people by
sending SMS/text or multimedia messages (MMS) with pictures
or videos from your mobile phone/smartphone?
Base: All children who use a phone or a smartphone.
43
% Parents
Belgium
54
Boys
43
Ireland
17
Girls
37
Italy
79
64
32
UK
49
20
Medium SES
40
60
80
Q14: How often are you in contact with the following people by
sending SMS/text or multimedia messages (MMS) with pictures
or videos from your mobile phone/smartphone?
Base: All children who use a phone or a smartphone.
44
72
76
10
High SES
100
85
12
41
76
Low SES
66
All
65
15-16 yrs
78
41
13
13-14 yrs
54
Romania
11-12 yrs
79
Portugal
76
11
9-10
yrs
50
71
61
Denmark
% Parents
71
75
All
74
10
20
40
60
80
100
Q18: How often are you in contact with the following people on
SNS?
Base: All children who use SNS.
73
Denmark
Ireland
70
Italy
88
11
69
Portugal
Romania
67
13
UK
80
14
10
20
40
64
28
66
25
79
15
74
All
60
80
100
Q18: How often are you in contact with the following people on
SNS?
Base: All children who use SNS.
Very true
A bit true
71
Not true
Belgium
% Parents
45
Boys
36
36
22
33
37
13
25
24
16
30
33
25
37
40
27
44
45
26
34
38
17
34
37
18
37
33
21
34
36
Girls
9-10
yrs
11-12
yrs
13-14
yrs
15-16
yrs
Low
SES
Medium
SES
High
SES
All
Denmark
Ireland
Italy
Portugal
Romania
UK
All
50
100
46
30
examines
50
100
Figure
23
33
35
17
34
36
12
23
27
22
35
29
24
38
41
31
44
54
18
33
32
21
34
36
Belgium
country
variations
in
Very true
5.1 Self-confidence
Not true
5. Skills
30
32
38
17
47
36
42
19
39
20
22
58
11
35
54
Figure 31 and Figure 33 help understand how selfconfidence varies by gender, age and SES:
Figure 31: I know more about the internet
than my parents, by gender, age and SES
%
Not
true
Boys
% A bit true
27
Girls
9-10
yrs
34
34
31
32
42
59
11-12 yrs
% Very true
31
32
37
36
Denmark
10
Ireland
21
31
12
27
30
15
30
48
42
36
49
34
29
37
43
38
30
32
50
32
38
27
38
100
34
42
30
28
58
35
All
34
37
24
All
High SES
26
35
UK
Medium
SES
42
48
30
28
34
31
Romania
Low SES
34
40
Portugal
15-16 yrs
% Very true
30
24
Italy
13-14 yrs
% A bit true
50
100
Belgium
13
Denmark
% A bit true
22
20
58
Girls
21
22
57
63
27
13
16
Portugal
Romania
27
28
19
Medium
SES
16
75
14
15
20
21
49
24
69
65
71
21
21
58
50
100
61
21
28
All
46
63
High SES
41
64
18
Low SES
18
45
23
62
21
0
15-16
yrs
19
Italy
All
13-14 yrs
72
41
UK
11-12 yrs
% Very true
% Very true
Boys
9-10 yrs
15
19
Ireland
% Not true
% A bit true
22
50
21
58
50
100
49
Girls
11
9-10 yrs
%
A
bit
true
47
18
11-12 yrs
% Not true
44
Belgium
39
52
12
% Very true
50
15-16 yrs
9
5
Ireland
46
52
37
43
51
50
30
45
44
Portugal
Romania
47
44
51
11
48
41
Medium
SES
10
48
42
High SES
10
50
40
All
11
48
41
UK 2
All
50
100
50
29
20
11
53
36
Low SES
% Very true
11
Italy
13-14 yrs
% A bit true
18
Denmark
30
52
52
40
41
57
48
41
50
100
Girls
All
Change filter
preferences
20
10
52
39
31
Bookmark a
website
47
39
76
75
61
Compare different
websites to decide if
29
27
68
66
49
S-ph user
Non user
13-16 years
Boys
Girls
Boys
9-12 years
Non user
13-16 years
All*
S-ph user
information is true
(user
s and
nonusers
)
Change filter
preferences
14
19
36
53
31
Bookmark a
website
37
64
63
86
61
Compare different
websites to decide if
information is true
25
39
58
75
49
51
27).
34
28
78
76
56
39
33
80
80
60
Block pop-ups
27
25
61
57
44
40
31
72
69
54
Tabl user
Non user
13-16 years
Tabl user
Non user
9-12 years
All*
(users
and
nonusers)
Q26 d, Q27 a-e: Which of these things do you know how to do?
Base: All children who use the internet.
Change filter
preferences
15
17
44
52
31
Bookmark a
website
40
56
74
83
61
Compare different
websites to decide if
information is true
25
41
67
72
49
13-16 years
All*
Non user
Girls
32
21
65
57
45
38
31
77
66
54
52
9-12 years
13-16 years
Boys
Girls
Boys
9-12 years
Non user
S-ph user
(user
s and
nonusers
)
23
39
49
71
45
29
51
62
79
54
29
58
69
89
60
Block pop-ups
21
43
51
66
44
31
49
61
78
54
Q26 d, Q27 a-e: Which of these things do you know how to do?
Base: All children who use the internet.
* The All values here refer to the average number of children
who are internet users and claim these skills (as shown in Table
30).
Boys
Tabl user
13-16 years
Non user
Tabl user
Non user
9-12 years
All*
(users
and
nonusers)
Block unwanted
adverts or junk mail
spam
26
29
60
67
45
33
41
71
73
54
Change privacy
settings on a social
networking profile
28
43
74
83
56
31
54
78
86
60
Block pop-ups
26
27
59
61
44
Find information on
how to use the
internet safely
34
42
68
79
54
Q26 d, Q27 a-e: Which of these things do you know how to do?
Base: All children who use the internet.
* The All values here refer to the average number of children
who are internet users and claim these skills (as shown in Table
30).
All
Publish a comment on a
blog, website or forum
35
34
72
78
56
41
36
84
84
63
Create a blog
14
14
45
47
31
13-16 years
Girls
56
13-16 years
S-ph user
89
Boys
62
Non user
53
Girls
25
S-ph user
All*
(users
and
nonusers)
Publish a comment on a
blog, website or forum
28
54
63
85
56
30
64
74
92
63
53
media
31
All*
(users
and
nonusers)
Publish a comment on a
blog, website or forum
31
47
72
84
56
34
54
82
90
63
Create a blog
13
17
43
56
31
54
13-16 years
All
Download apps
94
85
98
93
93
Connect to a wifi
network from
smartphone
85
73
96
92
89
41
32
71
64
57
56
45
73
72
66
Tabl user
13-16 years
Nonuser
Tabl user
Nonuser
9-12 years
Boys
Girls
13-16 years
Girls
54
Boys
37
Boys
25
Girls
10
Girls
Create a blog
All
49
32
78
72
63
50
29
77
68
61
33
29
64
52
48
Protect a smartphone
78
80
95
92
88
mobile media.
75
76
68
Base: All children who own or have for their own use a
smartphone or a tablet.
13-16 years
Girls
45
Boys
54
Girls
Boys
All
62
55
93
88
79
73
67
92
93
86
55
Denmark
5,3
6,9
Ireland
5,3
Italy
5,1
Portugal
7,1
Romania
5,5
UK
5,9
All
5,9
6,1
Girls
5,6
9-10 yrs
1,9
11-12 yrs
4,9
13-14 yrs
8,7
Low SES
6,2
High SES
6,0
All
5,9
10
12
5,6
Medium SES
Q26 a-d, Q27 a-h: Which of these things do you know how to do?
(Average out of 12 items.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
7,1
15-16 yrs
10
12
Q26 a-d, Q27 a-h: Which of these things do you know how to do?
(Average out of 12 items.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
56
7,9
Belgium
Girls
6,9
7,1
Denmark
9-10 yrs
7,3
3,9
11-12 yrs
Ireland
6,4
13-14 yrs
8,1
15-16 yrs
8,9
Italy
7,9
Portugal
8,0
Romania
Low SES
7,6
Medium SES
7,5
UK
High SES
7,3
All
All
7,5
6,9
6,7
8,3
7,5
10
Q26 a-d, Q27 a-h: Which of these things do you know how to do?
(Average out of 11 items.)
Base: All children who own or have for their own use a
smartphone or a tablet.
10
Q26 a-d, Q27 a-h: Which of these things do you know how to do?
(Average out of 11 items.)
Base: All children who own or have for their own use a
smartphone or a tablet.
57
58
of
14
Girls
21
9-10 yrs
11
11-12 yrs
14
13-14 yrs
20
15-16 yrs
23
Low SES
Belgium
Denmark
39
Ireland
Italy
20
6
Portugal
15
10
Medium SES
20
Romania
High SES
19
UK
15
All
17
All
17
20
40
60
80
100
27
20
40
60
80
100
and SES:
Boys
Girls
9-10
yrs
11-12
yrs
13-14
yrs
15-16
yrs
Low
SES
Medium
SES
High
SES
All
Belgium
50
100
40
41
37
Denmark
25
23
18
9
12
2
12
9
9
Ireland
Italy
Portugal
60
Romania
UK
23
22
28
43
52
24
25
12
All
50
100
6.2 Bullying
Despite being a recurrent theme in the research,
public and policy agenda, there is no standard
definition of cyberbullying, because the
phenomenon itself is a moving target (Schrock &
boyd, 2008; see also Levy et al., 2012). Most
Net Children Go Mobile: Risks and Opportunities
persistence,
searchability,
replicability and invisible audiences (boyd,
2008) potentially amplify the duration of
cyberbullying and its harmful consequences, as
wider audiences can be involved.
Prior research has shown that, while cyberbullying
61
81
Girls
6 14 6
74
9-10 yrs
7 14 3
76
11-12
yrs 4 10 5
13-14
yrs 4 15
81
74
15-16 yrs
5 8 9
78
Low SES
5 10 5
80
Medium
SES
5 14
High SES
4 12 5
79
All
5 12 6
77
73
50
100
62
Denmark
Ireland
87
20
61
11
6 10 6
78
Italy 1 7 5
87
Portugal 24 4
11
Romania
90
22
59
UK
6 12 3
79
All
5 12 6
77
50
Age
%
13-14
15-16
12
10
10
By messages sent on
phone (SMS, TEXT or
MMS)
On SNS
11
On a media sharing
platform
By instant messaging
In a chatroom
By email
On a gaming website
10
15
13
12
Q33: If someone has treated you in this kind of way, how did it
happen? (Multiple responses allowed).
Base: All children who use the internet.
100
12
Note that 23% of children said that they had been treated in a
hurtful or nasty way but only 19% specified how this had
happened. For those who had been very upset, 9% failed to
give a concrete answer as to how this had happened, for the a
little upset group 12% didnt give a definitive answer to how it
happened and for the not at all upset, 19% didnt give a
definitive answer.
All
9-10
63
15
10
10
10
Q33: If someone has treated you in this kind of way, how did it
happen? (Multiple responses allowed.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
In a chatroom
By email
On a gaming website
10
Q34 In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you ever behaved in this way
to someone else and if so, in which way did you do it? (Multiple
responses allowed.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
%
Have engaged in any form of
cyberbullying
15-16
13-14
11-12
9-10
Age
All
Use neither
17
By instant messaging
Tablet users
platform
Smart-phone
users
Use neither
Tablet users
Smart-phone
users
Q34 In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you ever behaved in this way
to someone else and if so, in which way did you do it? (Multiple
responses allowed.)
Base: All children who use the internet.
By messages sent on
phone (SMS, TEXT or
MMS)
On a SNS
On a media sharing
64
65
89
Girls 3 4 5
88
9-10
yrs
11-12
yrs 112
13-14
yrs 24 4
96
90
15-16 yrs 3 5 11
81
Low SES 34 4
89
Medium
23 8
SES
87
High SES 13 7
89
All 23 6
89
50
Belgium 21 8
66
89
Denmark 3 7 12
Ireland 13 7
100
89
Italy 113
95
Portugal 122
95
Romania
6 8 7
UK 113
78
All 23 6
79
95
89
50
100
9-10
11-12
13-14
15-16
Age
All
n/a
n/a
On a SNS
n/a
10
On a media sharing
platform
n/a
By instant messaging
n/a
In a chatroom
n/a
By email
n/a
On a gaming website
n/a
Q43: Again, if you have received any messages of this kind, how
did it happen? (Multiple responses allowed).
Base: All children aged 11-16 who use the internet.
Table 41 examines the differences between mobileand non-mobile internet users in the way sexual
messages are received.
Table 44: Ways in which children have
received sexual messages in the past 12
months, comparing mobile and non-mobile
internet users (age 11+)
Smartphone
users
Tablet
users
Use neither
On a SNS
Q43: Again, if you have received any messages of this kind, how
did it happen? (Multiple responses allowed).
Base: All children aged 11-16 who use the internet.
67
68
Boys
26
Girls
25
9-10 yrs
15
11-12 yrs
18
13-14 yrs
31
15-16 yrs
36
Low SES
21
Medium SES
32
High SES
26
All
26
20
40
60
80
100
Q37: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you ever had contact on the
internet (on all platforms/devices) with someone you had not
met face to face before? This could have been by email,
chatrooms, SNS, instant messaging or gaming sites.
Base: All children who use the internet.
19
Denmark
49
Ireland
22
Italy
22
Portugal
11
Romania
41
UK
17
All
26
20
40
60
80
89
Girls 12 9
88
95
11-12 yrs 12 5
92
13-14 yrs 12 10
100
87
15-16 yrs 12 16
Q37: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you ever had contact on the
internet (on all platforms/devices) with someone you had not
met face to face before? This could have been by email,
chatrooms, SNS, instant messaging or gaming sites.
Base: All children who use the internet.
Boys 02 9
81
Low SES 13 9
87
Medium
03 12
SES
85
94
88
50
100
90
Denmark 23 12
83
Ireland 022
96
Italy 01 9
90
Portugal 0 10
90
Romania 2 8
UK 03
All 12 9
73
17
97
88
50
100
70
14
% None
% One or two
% One or two
%
Three
or
more
Belgium
Boys
91
54
Girls
89
7 4
9-10 yrs
97
11-12 yrs
93
13-14 yrs
88
Denmark
84
Italy
90
55
Portugal
91
72
76
13
11
9 7
88
8 4
Medium
SES
88
6 6
97
All
90
50
41
64
100
Q40: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, how many people have you gone
on to meet face to face (who you had previously only met on the
internet)?
Base: All children who use the internet.
30
90
0
95
10
7 5
Low SES
All
8 6
99
UK
High SES
73
86
Ireland
21
61
90
Romania
15-16 yrs
% Three or more
64
50
100
Q40: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, how many people have you gone
on to meet face to face (who you had previously only met on the
internet)?
Base: All children who use the internet.
9-10
11-12
13-14
15-16
Age
All
On a SNS
13
71
On a media sharing
platform
By instant messaging
In a chatroom
By email
On a gaming website
Q41: If you have gone on to meet people face to face who you
met before just on the internet (never face to face), in what ways
did you get in contact with them for the first time? (Multiple
responses allowed).
Base: All children who use the internet.
Use neither
Tablet users
Smart-phone
users
On a SNS
Q41: If you have gone on to meet people face to face who you
met before just on the internet (never face to face), in what ways
did you get in contact with them for the first time?
Base: All children who use the internet.
72
Boys 3 6
73
7 11 12
Girls
18
70
9-10 yrs 3 5 6
11-12 yrs
55 8
13-14
yrs 4 12
15-16
yrs
82
17
6 10
Low SES 4 8
86
Medium
SES
7 8
67
28
56
14
74
17
68
High SES 4 10
15
71
5 8
15
72
All
50
100
73
17
28
Portugal 3 4
14
5 8
20
73
69
83
15
72
50
100
74
On television, film
13
17
11
On a video sharing
platform
11
On a photo sharing
platform
By pop-ups on the
internet
10
13
On a SNS
14
By instant messaging
In a chatroom
By email
On a gaming website
77
UK 4 6 7
All
In a magazine or book
79
10 11 10
Romania
All
48
Ireland 2 6 13
Italy 1 8
15-16
Denmark
Age
72
13-14
6 7 15
11-12
Belgium
9-10
Q36: If you have seen images of this kind, how did it happen?
(Multiple responses allowed).
Base: All children who use the internet.
11
11
10
On a SNS
12
10
Q36: If you have seen images of this kind, how did it happen?
(Multiple responses allowed).
Base: All children who use the internet.
15-16
13
13-14
On television, film
11-12
Use neither
Amongst
tablet users
Amongst
smartphone
users
pornography.
9-10
All
n/a
11
16
11
Discuss ways of
committing suicide
n/a
n/a
16
15
13
n/a
10
20
28
20
n/a
10
15
10
n/a
16
26
34
25
75
19
18
26
31
24
9-10
11-12
13-14
15-16
Age
All
17
15
22
27
21
The mobile
phone/smartphone got a
virus
% of children who
experienced
76
Rather likely
Rather unlikely
Very unlikely
33
21
16
18
12
Mother
48
23
11
11
Brother or sister
20
20
16
23
21
Other relatives
16
24
36
15
Friends
26
31
17
18
Teachers
11
21
43
18
13
17
42
21
22
19
34
17
9-12 years
Boys
Father
%...
Girls
Boys
%...
All
Father
43
39
29
23
33
Mother
52
65
32
44
48
77
Brother or sister
20
22
13
26
20
Other relatives
10
Friends
17
16
27
42
26
Teachers
10
61
Girls
73
9-10 yrs
72
11-12 yrs
69
13-14 yrs
63
15-16 yrs
65
Low SES
69
Medium SES
67
High SES
64
All
67
20
40
60
80
100
Gender
and
age
differences
are
considerable: younger children (72%) and girls
(73%) are more likely than boys (61%) and
teenagers (63% and 65%) to talk with at least
one person about what bothers them on the
internet.
78
78
Denmark
56
Ireland
65
Italy
63
Portugal
80
Romania
63
UK
64
All
67
20
40
60
80
100
79
80
A bit true
Not true
7. Dependence and
overdependence
%
Since I have had a smartphone I find it
easier to organise my daily activities
35
42
23
19
39
42
43
36
21
44
36
20
28
40
32
47
37
16
16
43
41
%...
All
15
26
28
23
Thanks to my
smartphone I feel more
connected to my friends
28
24
48
50
42
Thanks to my
smartphone I feel more
connected to my family
24
16
22
21
21
Thanks to my
smartphone I feel safer
18
22
20
20
20
30
26
36
32
32
Thanks to my
smartphone it is easier
to do my homework and
class assignments
10
12
18
19
16
Thanks to my
smartphone I feel less
bored
29
35
47
43
41
13-16 years
Girls
9-12 years
Boys
Girls
Boys
81
100
80
60
40
78
64
20
0
14
15
21
61
20
19
63
58
18
24
16
21
Gone
without
eating Felt
bothered
when
I Caught
myself
surfing Spent
less
time
than
I Tried
unsuccessfully
or
sleeping
because
cannot
be
on
the when
I
am
not
really should
with
family, to
spend
less
time
on
of
the
internet
internet
interested
friends
or
doing
the
internet
schoolwork
because
of
the
internet
Q46: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, how often, have these things happened to you?
Base: All children who use the internet.
82
21
Girls
20
9-10 yrs
11-12 yrs
Belgium
15
13-14 yrs
26
15-16 yrs
30
25
Ireland
23
19
Italy
Medium SES
22
Portugal
High SES
22
Romania
All
21
UK
20
40
60
80
100
Denmark
Low SES
16
11
16
24
29
All
21
20
40
60
80
100
Differences
between
countries
are
considerable, ranging from 11% of children
who report two or more experiences of
excessive use in Italy to 29% in the UK.
Countries can be grouped into two categories:
Belgium, Italy and Portugal are below the
average, whereas children in Denmark, Ireland,
Romania and the UK, are more likely to
experience two or more forms of
overdependence to the internet.
83
100
80
60
40
20
0
38
33
29
24
35
41
50
27
23
23
33
44
30
29
41
20
30
50
I
have
felt
I
have
caught
I
have
felt
a
I
have
spent
less I
find
myself
using I
have
tried
bothered
when
I myself
doing
strong
need
to time
than
I
should my
phone
even
in unsuccessfully
to
could
not
check
things
on
my
check
my
phone
with
either
places/situations spend
less
time
my
smartphone smartphone
that
I to
see
if
anything family,
friends
or where
it
is
not using
my
phone
was
not
really
new
has
doing
schoolwork appropriate
interested
in
happened
Q49: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, how often, have these things happened to you?
Base: All children who own or have for their own use a smartphone.
84
Boys
47
Belgium
Girls
48
Denmark
43
Ireland
41
9-10 yrs
20
11-12 yrs
40
13-14 yrs
Italy
47
15-16
yrs
47
Medium SES
48
50
Portugal
61
Low SES
34
57
Romania
38
UK
65
All
High SES
49
All
48
20
40
60
80
100
48
20
40
60
80
100
85
8. Mediation
The perspective on risks and opportunities of the
internet adopted in this study assumes that
childrens online experiences are contextualised
within intersecting socio-cultural, technological
and political spheres. Family, peer cultures and the
school context are all influential sources of
mediation of childrens internet use, whose
relevance has been widely recognised within policy
debates.
Parents have been especially valued for their role
in regulating the benefits and risks of the internet
for children, primarily within regulatory approaches
that promote empowerment and self-regulation
(Mascheroni et al., 2013). The role of teachers has
also been welcomed, particularly as compensation
for parents low digital literacies in countries with
persisting inequalities in adults access to the
internet. Schools are then assumed to be strategic
sites of e-safety education (ONeill & Laouris, 2013).
Finally, research has argued that the importance of
online and mobile communication in childrens
everyday life is associated with a growing influence
of peer culture in childrens socialisation (Pasquier,
2005), against a declining role of both parents and
teachers. Researchers emphasise the positive
outcomes of peer exchanges, namely, practical
guidance and sharing of experience, and policy
makers have increasingly recognised the rights of
children to be actively involved in the discussion of
internet safety issues, and in awareness-raising
initiatives (Barbovschi & Marinescu, 2013).
Since teachers attitudes towards the internet and
their engagement in different forms of mediation is
also related to schools policies regarding the
internet, wifi networks and use of smartphones, we
treat teachers mediation in a separate chapter on
schools (see Chapter 9).
86
8.1 Parents
The EU Kids Online survey (Livingstone et al., 2011;
Mascheroni et al., 2013) proposed five main
categories of parental mediation:
1) Active mediation of internet use, where
parents engage in activities such as talking about
internet content while the child is engaging with it,
and sharing the online experience of the child by
remaining nearby.
2) Active mediation of internet safety, where the
parent promotes safer and responsible uses of the
internet.
3) Restrictive mediation, which involves setting
rules that limit and regulate time spent online,
location of use and online activities.
4) Technical restrictions, that is, the use of
software and technical tools to filter, restrict and
monitor childrens online activities.
5) Monitoring or checking the record of online
activities.
The EU Kids Online findings have shown that,
among the five parental strategies examined, only
active mediation of internet use and restrictions are
associated with lower risk and harm (Drager &
Livingstone, 2012; Mascheroni et al., 2013).
However, restrictive measures are also likely to
undermine childrens digital literacy; indeed,
restrictions on use and opportunities are the most
effective but destructive (in terms of resilience
building) means of reducing risks (Livingstone et
al., 2012, p. 331).
Research on parental mediation of childrens media
use has shown that not all the strategies parents
used to regulate childrens television viewing could
be adapted to the internet, which requires instead
more innovative strategies (Clark, 2012; Livingstone
& Helsper, 2008; Mendoza, 2009). Similarly, we
assume that not all the strategies of parental
mediation so far adopted in the regulation of
internet use can be enacted regarding the use of
smartphones. Mobile devices are usually perceived
as more personal media, and have smaller screens.
Girls
%...
Boys
All
72
68
58
69
66
55
57
32
44
47
69
68
42
53
58
Encourage child to
explore and learn things
on the internet on their
own
50
46
35
39
42
Do shared activities
together with child on
the internet
45
50
29
30
38
66
Girls
70
9-10 yrs
83
11-12 yrs
65
15-16 yrs
55
Low SES
73
13-14 yrs
13-16 years
Boys
Girls
Boys
9-12 years
64
Medium SES
70
High SES
73
All
68
20
40
60
80
100
87
66
Denmark
61
Ireland
71
Italy
68
Portugal
65
UK
%...
20
40
13-16 years
All
76
81
56
62
68
72
72
61
67
68
67
72
57
67
66
64
67
62
70
66
40
46
33
45
41
54
65
50
61
57
68
60
80
100
88
9-12 years
72
All
Q54: Has your parent/have either of your parents ever done any
of the following things with you?
Base: All children who use the internet.
74
Romania
Girls
Boys
Girls
Boys
73
Girls
80
9-10 yrs
79
11-12 yrs
81
Belgium
13-14 yrs
80
Denmark
15-16 yrs
68
Ireland
Low SES
68
Italy
Medium SES
83
High SES
85
All
77
20
40
72
80
87
77
Portugal
68
Romania
68
UK
60
80
100
Q54: Has your parent/have either of your parents ever done any
of the following things with you? The graph shows the
percentage of children who say yes to at least two of the items
in Table 56.
Base: All children who use the internet.
86
All
77
20
40
60
80
100
Q54: Has your parent/have either of your parents ever done any
of the following things with you? The graph shows the
percentage of children who say yes to at least two of the items
in Table 56.
Base: All children who use the internet.
Girls
13-16 years
30
32
18
15
16
43
50
26
73
77
41
51
60
48
51
14
29
30
33
19
Purchase apps
70
75
49
56
62
Register geographical
location
75
78
40
46
59
50
50
17
16
32
%...
Girls
Boys
9-12 years
All
Girls
90
11-12 yrs
79
13-14 yrs
58
15-16 yrs
41
Low SES
67
Medium SES
63
High SES
65
All
65
90
68
9-10 yrs
63
20
40
60
80
100
76
Denmark
75
Italy
67
All
65
20
40
Girls
30
28
20
26
26
Parental controls or
other means of keeping
track of the websites
visited
28
29
19
26
25
A service or contract
that limits the time child
spends on the internet
13
17
13
13
Software to prevent
spam, junk mail, viruses
50
53
51
50
51
63
UK
All
Parental controls or
other means of blocking
or filtering some types of
website
77
Romania
60
80
100
%...
67
Portugal
13-16 years
Q56: As far as you know, does your parent/do your parents make
use of any of the following for the computer that you use the
MOST at home?
Base: All children who use the internet.
23
Ireland
9-12 years
Boys
Restrictive
measures
are
strongly
structured by age: youngest children (90%)
are more than twice as likely to be restricted in
their online activities than older teenagers
(41%).
Boys
Boys
24
Belgium
Girls
28
Denmark
9-10 yrs
27
Ireland
11-12 yrs
33
13-14 yrs
29
15-16 yrs
19
Low SES
20
Medium SES
Italy
21
Portugal
23
8
20
45
All
26
26
44
UK
35
All
12
Romania
27
High SES
34
40
60
80
100
Q56: As far as you know, does your parent/do your parents make
use of any of the following for the computer that you use the
MOST at home? The graph shows the percentage of children who
say yes to at least two of the items in Table 58.
Base: All children who use the internet.
20
40
60
80
100
Q56: As far as you know, does your parent/do your parents make
use of any of the following for the computer that you use the
MOST at home? The graph shows the percentage of children who
say yes to at least two of the items in Table 58.
Base: All children who use the internet.
92
13-16 years
Boys
Girls
Boys
9-12 years
%...
All
20
12
15
17
16
21
21
22
15
17
17
12
10
13
11
22
11
11
Boys
15
Girls
13
9-10 yrs
14
14
11-12 yrs
18
13-14 yrs
15
15-16 yrs
12
Low SES
15
Medium SES
10
High SES
17
All
14
20
40
60
80
100
93
19
Denmark 2
Ireland
13
Italy
15
Portugal
15
Romania
14
UK
27
All
14
20
40
60
80
100
37
22
Girls
36
36
23
51
94
32
41
13-14 yrs
30
15-16 yrs
% Nothing
35
11-12 yrs
% Just a little
Boys
9-10 yrs
% Quite a bit
24
36
Medium
SES
34
High SES
37
All
36
0
37
37
18
28
38
Low SES
13 4
29
34
35
41
36
50
23
25
19
22
6
100
Q51: How much do you think your parent(s) knows about what
you do on the internet? Would you say a lot, quite a bit, just a
little, or nothing?
Base: All children who use the internet.
% Quite a bit
Belgium
% Just a little
44
Denmark
18
36
40
Ireland
27
UK
27
34
36
12 4
31
26
45
All
17 1
52
36
Romania
36
32
Portugal
16 5
37
46
Italy
% Nothing
27
36
50
6
12
21
% A lot
22
Boys
100
Girls
Q51: How much do you think your parent(s) knows about what
you do on the internet? Would you say a lot, quite a bit, just a
little, or nothing?
Base: All children who use the internet.
28
% Just a little
38
34
35
28
22
15-16 yrs
38
7
19
37
19
28
38
30
35
Medium
SES
31
34
High SES
33
All
31
41
37
50
3
6
6
11
29
Low SES
24
29
38
11-12 yrs
%
Nothing
26
49
9-10 yrs
13-14 yrs
% Quite a bit
28
7
10
25
21
25
5
7
100
Q52: How much do you think your parent(s) knows about how
95
34
Belgium
17
Denmark
% Just a little
41
33
25
Italy
20
36
43
Ireland
31
49
23
19
71
78
66
27
33
39
48
37
25
27
34
42
32
21
29
31
44
32
21
25
32
47
32
22
26
33
48
33
30
Romania
32
35
27
18
31
All
37
50
25
7
100
Q52: How much do you think your parent(s) knows about how
you use your phone/smartphone? Would you say a lot, quite a
bit, just a little, or nothing?
Base: All children who own or have for their own use a
smartphone.
Q58: Have your friends ever done any of these things? Please say
yes or no to each of the following
Base: All children who use the internet.
8.2 Peers
Support from peers is positively associated with
online opportunities and digital literacy; especially
for younger children, friends are often the main
reason for taking up creative and interactive
activities such as social media and blogging
(Kalmus, von Felitzen, & Siibak, 2012). The effects of
peer mediation on online risky and harmful
experiences are, instead, less clear: the EU Kids
Online findings suggest that peer mediation is more
likely to follow after negative experiences (ibidem).
96
All
53
30
35
%...
60
34
38
13-16 years
14
Portugal
UK
9-12 years
% Nothing
Girls
% Quite a bit
% A lot
Boys
Girls
46
Girls
Belgium
57
9-10 yrs
Denmark
31
11-12 yrs
47
13-14 yrs
63
15-16 yrs
60
Low SES
57
Ireland
46
Italy
43
Portugal
62
Romania
52
Medium SES
39
68
UK
46
57
All
High SES
46
All
51
20
51
40
60
80
100
Q58: Have your friends ever done any of these things? Please say
yes or no to each of the following... The graph shows the
percentage of children who say yes to at least two of the items
in Table 60.
Base: All children who own or have for their own use a
smartphone.
20
40
60
80
100
Q58: Have your friends ever done any of these things? Please say
yes or no to each of the following... The graph shows the
percentage of children who say yes to at least two of the items
in Table 60.
Base: All children who own or have for their own use a
smartphone.
97
9. Mobile internet
in schools
98
65
22
13
Girls
63
23
14
9-10 yrs
44
24
11-12 yrs
66
13-14 yrs
67
15-16 yrs
32
21
25
74
Low SES
13
8
21
60
26
5
14
Medium
SES
67
20
13
High SES
66
20
14
All
64
22
14
50
100
Q60: Is wifi available at your school, and if so, are the students
allowed to use it?
Base: All children who use the internet.
51
30
Denmark
19
85
Ireland
18
57
Portugal
12
17
42
33
10
64
22
14
All
64
22
14
50
100
Q60: Is wifi available at your school, and if so, are the students
allowed to use it?
Base: All children who use the internet.
25
UK
31
73
Romania
4 11
76
Italy
Boys
31
10
Girls
37
9-10 yrs
39
11-12 yrs
37
13-14 yrs
32
15-16 yrs
30
Low SES
35
Medium
SES
33
High SES
33
All
34
0
44
15
40
16
46
10
41
17
12
37
19
46
9
15
41
15
42
16
45
16
42
16
8
50
100
Q60: Is there Wifi available at your school, and if so, are the
students allowed to use it?
Base: All children who say wifi is available at school.
99
in school
Smartphone use in schools also tends to be
regulated, as shown in Figure 85:
Figure 85: Rules about smartphone use at
school, by gender, age and SES
%
Not
allowed
%
Allowed
but
with
some
restrictions
%
Allowed
and
no
special
restrictions
Boys
51
Girls
% Not allowed
56
9-10 yrs
34
29
76
11-12 yrs
15
15
14
59
27
10
14
52
53
Ireland
36
Italy
Romania
13
12
45
34
All
34
16
13
UK
30
12
58
42
50
16
100
Q60: Is there Wifi available at your school, and if so, are the
students allowed to use it?
Base: All children who say wifi is available at school.
15
43
19
57
33
10
Medium
SES
51
High SES
52
33
15
All
54
31
15
37
38
Low SES
22
56
48
15-16 yrs
48
59
16
13-14 yrs
56
45
Portugal
38
28
50
21
100
%
Not
allowed
%
Allowed
but
with
some
restrictions
%
Allowed
and
no
special
restrictions
Belgium
70
Denmark
18
28
12
70
Ireland
87
Italy
13 0
74
Portugal
21
Romania
24
67
42
UK
46
12
33
54
0
2
12
63
All
31
50
4
15
100
%...
13-16 years
Girls
Boys
Girls
All
101
50
46
49
51
49
55
58
62
66
61
52
53
54
58
54
52
53
55
62
56
9-10 yrs
49
53
57
62
56
11-12 yrs
Suggested ways to
behave towards other
people online
46
48
52
58
51
13-14 yrs
73
21
21
21
28
23
15-16 yrs
72
36
Boys
Girls
40
36
48
40
102
71
60
68
Low SES
Q59: Have any teachers at your school ever done any of these
things?
Base: All children who use the internet.
67
65
Medium SES
71
High SES
71
All
69
20
40
60
80
100
Q59: Have any teachers at your school ever done any of these
things? The graph shows the percentage of children who say
yes to at least two of the items in Table 61.
Base: All children who use the internet.
Never or
almost never
Denmark
Daily or
almost daily
65
Several times
each day
Belgium
20
44
30
10
24
63
86
74
Ireland
89
Italy
44
Portugal
70
Romania
62
UK
Q62: If you think about your school how often do the teachers
want students to do these things?
Base: All children who use the internet.
80
All
69
20
40
60
80
100
Q59: Have any teachers at your school ever done any of these
things? The graph shows the percentage of children who say
yes to at least two of the items in Table 61.
Base: All children who use the internet.
category.
4
11
14
13
8
Belgium
Denmark
7
14
27
5
12
24
3
6
10
4
8
19
7
15
30
10
21
40
6
14
22
7
12
26
6
13
31
6
13
26
Boys
Girls
9-10
yrs
11-12
yrs
13-14
yrs
15-16
yrs
Low
SES
Medium
SES
High
SES
All
Ireland
UK
20
6
13
19
4
19
25
9
20
27
4
12
All
6
13
Italy
Portugal
Romania
40
26
50
100
Q62: If you think about your school, how often do the teachers
want students to do these things?
Base: All children who use the internet.
50
100
Q62: If you think about your school, how often do the teachers
want students to do these things?
Base: All children who use the internet.
104
34
1
6
13-14 yrs
15-16 yrs
73
88
92
79
16
23
34
21
27
60
84
93
68
10
27
39
52
33
13
41
65
76
85
74
7.0
7.9
9.0
9.7
8.5
1.9
4.9
7.1
8.7
5.9
All
56
Tablets
11-12 yrs
9-10 yrs
Age
Smartphones
10. Conclusions
95
95
62
79
40
35
21
89
75
52
68
53
47
17
33
11
13
83
76
64
74
8.4
7.9
8.7
8.5
8.0
6.8
4.2
5.9
All
Consequently,
the
increasingly
privatised
105
106
Age
15-16 yrs
13-14 yrs
11-12 yrs
9-10 yrs
24
19
26
22
23
10
15
13
12
14
15
12
15
14
10
n/a
10
19
11
15
18
31
36
26
13
19
12
14
18
33
44
28
n/a
16
26
34
25
19
18
26
31
24
15
26
30
21
Daily use of
mobile devices
107
All
Sma
rtpho
nes
Tabl
ets
Neit
her
26
26
20
23
17
15
12
14
13
14
14
15
14
11
35
28
18
26
15
10
10
12
37
33
22
28
32
32
17
25
31
29
20
24
30
28
14
21
with
over-
16
Note that 23% of children said that they had been treated in a
hurtful or nasty way but only 19% specified how this had
happened. For those who had been very upset, 9% failed to
give a concrete answer as to how this had happened, for the a
little upset group 12% didnt give a definitive answer to how it
happened and for the not at all upset, 19% didnt give a
definitive answer.
108
15-16 yrs
13-14 yrs
11-12 yrs
9-10 yrs
Age
All
% in past 12 months
Have seen or experienced
something on the internet that has
bothered them
11
14
20
23
17
20
14
19
13
17
10
17
16
13
them
Treated in a hurtful or nasty way
online or offline and been upset
18
18
16
17
16
15
11
13
10.3 Mediation
Finally, Tables 68 and 69 summarise findings
regarding parents and peer mediation. These
findings suggest that parents engage more in
active mediation of internet safety (77%),
which makes it the most common intervention by
parents, followed by active mediation of internet
use (68%) and restrictions (65%). Compared to the
EU Kids Online data (2010) parental mediation of
children's online safety is increasing, while active
mediation of internet use and restrictions are less
often adopted by parents. Technical restrictions are
still the least favoured mediation activities,
adopted by just one in four parents. One in two
children say they receive mediation from their
friends, and 67% are very likely to talk to at least
one person when they have negative online
experiences.
Smartphones
Tablets
Neither
24
25
12
% in past 12 months
15-16 yrs
All
% in past 12 months
Daily use of
mobile devices
13-14 yrs
9-10 yrs
11-12 yrs
Age
All
17
83
73
65
55
68
79
81
80
68
77
90
79
58
41
65
27
33
29
19
26
109
safety by parents
Active mediation by friends
31
47
63
60
51
72
69
63
65
67
Smartphones
Tablets
Neither
61
69
72
68
79
85
72
77
Restrictive mediation of
internet safety by parents
45
54
82
65
Technical mediation of
internet safety by parents
26
33
25
26
61
60
44
51
66
69
67
67
% in past 12 months
All
110
How old when first used the internet: See Table 10 and
Figure 7
Q5: How old were you when you first used the internet?
Treated others in hurtful or nasty way using internet or mobile phones: See Table 39
Q34 In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you ever behaved in this way to someone else and if so, in which way did you do it? (Multiple
responses allowed.)
Net Children Go Mobile: Risks and Opportunities
111
Had contact with someone not met face to face before: See Figure 49
Q37: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you ever had contact on the internet (on all platforms/devices) with someone you had not
met face to face before? This could have been by email, chatrooms, SNS, instant messaging or gaming sites.
Gone to a face-to-face meeting with someone only met online before: See Figure 51
Q39: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you ever gone on to meet anyone face to face who you had first met on the internet, and if
so, were you at all upset by what happened or wish that you had not done it?
Seen any type of harmful user-generated content on websites (age 11+): See Table 49
Q44: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you seen websites where people discuss
Excessive internet use (two out of five items): See Figure 60 shows
Q46: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, how often, have these things happened to you? The figure indicates the percentage of children
who answer fairly often or very often to at least two of the five statements in Figure 59
Have seen or experienced something on the internet that has bothered them: See Figure 41
Q30: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you seen or experienced something on the internet that has bothered you in some way? For
example, made you feel uncomfortable, upset, or feel that you shouldnt have seen it?
Treated in a hurtful or nasty way online or offline and been upset: See Figure 45
Q32: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, has someone treated you in this kind of way, and if so, how upset were you about happened?
Received sexual messages and been upset (only 11+): See Figure 47
Q42: In the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you received sexual messages of this kind (this could be words, pictures or videos), and if so,
how upset were you about happened?
Restrictive mediation of internet safety by parents: See Table 57: and Figure 69
Q55: For each of these things, please tell me if your parents CURRENTLY let you do them whenever you want, or let you do them
but only with permission or supervision, or NEVER let you do them. The figure indicates the percentage of children who say
can never do this to at least two of the items in Table 57.
Technical mediation of internet safety by parents: See Table 58: and Figure 71
Q56: As far as you know, does your parent/do your parents make use of any of the following for the computer that you use the
MOST at home? The figure indicates the percentage of children who say yes to at least two of the items in Table 58.
112
Q58: Have your friends ever done any of these things? Please say yes or no to each of the following... The figure indicates the
percentage of children who say yes to at least two of the items in Table 60.
113
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116
List of tables
Table 1: How often children use the internet in
different places ......... Errore. Il segnalibro non
definito.
118
List of figures
Figure 1: Comparison betw een home and
school access ............. Errore. Il segnalibro non
definito.
119
120
The network
Country
National contact
Team
Belgium
Leen dHaenens
leen.dhaenens@soc.kuleuven.be
Leen dHaenens
Sofie Vandoninck
Gitte Stald
stald@itu.dk
Gitte Stald
Heidi Jrgensen
Brian ONeill
brian.oneill@dit.ie
Brian ONeill
Thuy Dinh
Giovanna Mascheroni
giovanna.mascheroni@unicatt.it
OssCom, Universit Cattolica del S. Cuore, Largo Gemelli, 1, 20123 Milano
Giovanna Mascheroni
Kjartan lafsson
Andrea Cuman
Barbara Scifo
Marina Micheli
Maria Francesca Murru
Piermarco Aroldi
Portugal
Romania
Anca Velicu
anca.velicu@gmail.com
Institute of Sociology, Casa Academiei, Calea 13 Septembrie 13, Bucharest
Anca Velicu
Monica Barbovschi
Valentina Marinescu
Bianca Balea
UK
Leslie Haddon
leshaddon@aol.com
Leslie Haddon
Jane Vincent
121
The International
Advisory Panel
Mizuko Ito
University of California, Irvine
Richard Ling
IT University of Copenhagen
Sonia Livingstone
The London School
of Economics and Political Science
Charo Sdaba
Universidad de Navarra
Cristiana De Paoli
Save the Children Italia
published by:
distributed under
creative commons license
Contacts:
Dr. Giovanna Mascheroni
giovanna.mascheroni@unicatt.it
OssCom
Reasearch Centre on Media and Communication
Universit Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milano Italy
ISBN 978-88-6780-288-3
www.netchildrengomobile.eu