EU Kids Online 2020: Survey results from 19 countries

"This report presents the findings from a survey of children aged 9–16 from 19 European countries. The data were collected between autumn 2017 and summer 2019 from 25,101 children by national teams from the EU Kids Online network. A theoretical model and a common methodology to guide this work was developed during four phases of the network’s work, and is discussed at the outset of this report. The main findings from the key topic areas are summarised, which correspond to the factors identified in the theoretical model: Access, Practices and skills, Risks and opportunities, and Social context. Throughout the report, findings are presented according to the countries surveyed, and the gender and age of the children. The survey findings are comparable across countries, and the methodology section presents the common methods followed. We also note where the methodology varied across countries: throughout the report, the differences among countries should be interpreted with caution. These new findings raise many points to think about. The last section includes findings from national data by country, to provide some national contextualisation, and also to report on findings from country-specific questions. We conclude by drawing together the findings from within countries and across countries, relating these to the theoretical model. Important research gaps and policy implications for children’s online opportunities and risks in Europe are also discussed." (Smahel et al. 2020, p.6).

"Italian children aged 9 to 17 go online primarily from their smartphones – 84% do so daily. While the internet is an integral part of children’s daily lives, differences persist in online activities and, more significantly, in online skills. With misinformation being one of the highest concerns on the public agenda, it is striking that only 42% of Italian children reportedly find it easy to check if the information they find online is true. The number of children who have felt bothered (upset, uncomfortable or scared) by something they experienced on the internet has more than doubled, from 6% in 2013 to 13% in 2017 (and from 3% to 13% among 9- to 10-year-olds). The most common risk is being exposed to harmful user-generated content (UGC) – 51% of 11- to 17-year-olds have been exposed to at least one form of negative UGC in the past year, including hate messages (31%). Most feel sad, angry and full of hatred for what they have seen. However, 58% of those who have seen hate speech in the past year did nothing about it. Similarly, 50% of children who have witnessed someone else being bullied on the internet reportedly did nothing about it." (Smahel et al., 2020, p. 145)