• Lelia Green, and others
• The ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation

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04 November 2011Domestic access, in particular, has progressed from a dial-up connection, through broadband to wireless technologies. Internet access has become pervasive with young people accessing and contributing data to websites and online services using smart phones and other handheld media. Policy makers, educators, industry, welfare organisations, parents and children all have a stake in the debates around access, opportunity and harm. The challenge is to maximise the benefits flowing from internet access while minimising harm.

This report presents the initial findings from an Australian survey of 9-16 year olds (see Annex 2) and provides a unique insight into the balance of opportunities and risks experienced by Australian children on the internet. It compares findings by age, gender and socioeconomic status; it compares the accounts of children and their parents; and it compares Australian children’s experiences in relation to those across 25 European nations.

The Australian survey was conducted in parallel with, but 6 months later than, a 25 country survey carried out by the EU Kids Online network and funded by the EC’s Safer Internet Programme. The EU Kids Online project aims to enhance knowledge of children’s and parents’ experiences and practices regarding risky and safer use of the internet and new online technologies, and thereby to inform the promotion of a safer online environment for children. The countries of the EU Kids Online network are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the UK. Australia was invited to participate as part of a commitment to internationalise the findings.

For the Australian survey, a random stratified sample of 400 9-16 year olds who use the internet, together with one of their parents/carers, was interviewed during Nov/Feb 2010-11. This contrasts with survey dates of Spring/Summer 2010 in Europe. The survey questionnaire was designed by the EU Kids Online network, coordinated by the London School of Economics and Political Science. Fieldwork in Europe was conducted by Ipsos MORI, and in Australia by their local affiliate company, Ipsos/I-view social research.

Authors: Lelia Green, Danielle Brady, Kjartan Ólafsson, John Hartley, Catharine Lumby