April 28 2005

This 44-page report presents key findings of a United Kingdom (UK) based research project that surveyed children and youth to see how much or how little this group relies on the Internet for information. The project seeks to offer an assessment of online risks and opportunities that can help shape academic debates and policy frameworks for children and young people’s Internet use. This two-year study is based on face-to-face surveys with 1,511 children (ages 9-19), 906 of their parents, and a series of focus group interviews.

As described by the authors, the Internet is a "massive potential driver of social change." They believe that in a healthy society no group should be left behind and that learning opportunities for adults and children should not missed as new technology continues to catch our attention.

One key finding from the report indicates that the mobile phone is the preferred method of communication (over email, text or instant messaging) for a range of reasons whether it is passing time, discussing logistics, seeking advice or gossiping or flirting. Twenty-five percent of surveyed youth suggest that talking online offers some privacy but 53% believe that email, instant messaging and chat rooms are less satisfying. The authors believe that policies should be created which help develop online advice resources for young people since they value intimacy and privacy.

The report indicates that children and young people are divided into those for whom the Internet is "an increasingly rich, diverse, engaging and stimulating
resource of growing importance in their lives and those for whom it remains a "narrow, unengaging, if occasionally useful, resource of rather less
significance." As a result, according to the authors, a new divide is being created which is centred on the quality of use. The survey finds that middle class children, children with Internet access at home, children with broadband access and children whose parents use the Internet more often are more likely to be daily users and to gain more Internet skills. "Consequently, they experience the Internet as a richer, if risky, medium than do less
privileged children."

The report indicates that the lack of Internet skills and experience among many UK parents is potentially harming their children's education and job prospects and could be placing them on the wrong side of a growing digital divide. According to this research, many parents lack the skills to guide and support their children’s Internet use.

According to findings, home access is growing. Seventy-five percent of 9-19 year olds have accessed the Internet from a computer at home and ninety-two
percent of children have access at school. Findings indicate that the Internet poses more risks than other media and that gaps exist in understanding between
parents and children regarding potential risks, Internet expertise and domestic regulations. As stated by the authors, "the key point is that greater online skills are consistently associated with the take up of a wide range of online opportunities for children and young people."

The authors suggest that one priority for future research should include examining the extent and nature of actual harm associated with online risks. Content varies considerably from distasteful to hard core or illegal material. The ethical issues in researching this with children, the consequences of exposure to unwanted or inappropriate content remain "a key research gap." The authors state that little is known about how children and young
people respond to different kinds content or whether or when this might adversely impact their sexual or personal development.