A rather interesting Study was conducted recently in Europe on the subject of internet and cell phone usage by children between the ages of 9 and 14. The Study, Safer Internet for Children, was conducted from March 2007 to May 2007 and spanned 29 European countries. The subject children were invited to group discussions where they discussed their internet and cell phone usage, their on-line behavior and their perceptions of risks and safety measures related to online and cell phone usage.
According to the Study, children use the internet primarily to play online games, look up information on subjects that are of interest and to browse for fun. Looking up information for schoolwork also came up as a popular – albeit less exciting – use for the internet.
The older children tend to use the internet for downloading (music, movies, games) and communicating (instant messaging, chatting with friends, emailing).
The Study also found that the children tended not to use the internet to engage in open chatrooms or reading or responding to the blogs and/or homepages of strangers.
Most children have cell phones and consider them to be a status symbol. Predictably, the younger children use their phones primarily to stay in contact with their parents, while the older children use their phones to call and text their friends. Only a small minority of the children stated that they used their cell phones to take photos, share photos or videos, listen to music or play games.
The Study also found that children, while aware of the risks and dangers associated with irresponsible internet and cell phone usage, tend to deny or minimize the consequences.
The results of the Study will be used to contribute to designing a Safer Internet Programme in Europe.
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