GLOBAL KIDS ONLINE MONTENEGRO: Opportunities, risks and safety

The internet is deep-seated in children’s everyday life in Montenegro. As many as 91% of children aged 9 to 17 use it, and most of them, 87%, are online every day. Children recognise a wide range of opportunities that the internet offers, but most often use it for entertainment and social relationships on social networking sites. A smartphone is by far the most extensively used online device. children’s opportunity to access the internet becomes truly extensive. online experiences in the past year, 38% reported that they have experienced at least some of the online upsetting incidents in at least one of the four areas: something happened that upset them; someone treated them in a hurtful way; they have seen sexual images; or they have received sexual messages. Parents’ mediation of children’s internet use is also rather sporadic, and mainly consists of talking to children. Increasing general awareness of internet-related risks seems to be an overall priority. Adequate coping mechanisms with nasty online incidents should be strengthened. awareness of help centres and other relevant supporting bodies should also be raised, along with trust in these organisations.

-The internet has become an intergral part of children's everyday life in Montenegro with 91% of children aged 9-17 using the internet, and 81% of them use it daily. -The most used online device is the smartphone. -"Time spent on the internet substantially increases as children grow older. On average, children aged 15 to 17 are estimated to spend almost four hours a day online" (Logar et al., 2016, 14) -The internet is used rather sporadically in education, less frequently than weekly. -Children become substantially more skillful as they grow older. -"A noticeable percentage of children do not feel that there are things on the internet that bother or upset people about their age" (Logar et al., 2016, 15) (only 37% definitely agreed with this statement) -"When it comes to online experiences in the past year, 38% of children reported that they have experienced at least some of the online nasty deeds in at least one of four areas - something happened that upset them; someone treated them in a hurtful way; they have seen sexual images; or received sexual messages" (Logar et al., 2016, 15) -Focus groups revealed that social networks are used to organize fights among peers, real life fights. -Parents are for the most part unaware of their children's online experiences, especially regarding sexual content. -Majority of the children feel more comfortable and safe in their live environment than in a digital environment. -26% of the children feel it is easier to be themselves online than when they are face-to-face -72% have their own profile on a social networking site and 26% have their profile set to public for anyone to see. -Children rarely initiate parental support and parental mediation is rather sporadic. -When it comes to internet use, schools are hardly involved in children's online lives.