Supervising pre-schoolers online
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Research
The Office undertakes research to ensure our programs and resources are evidence based. A key function of the Office is to support, encourage, conduct and evaluate research about online safety.
For any enquiries about our research, please contact research@esafety.gov.au.
Latest Research: Digital parenting
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner has commissioned a national survey of 3,520 Australian parents to better understand their attitudes and behaviours towards keeping their children safe online and digital technology usage.
The first series of research findings are presented in three interactive infographics, including:
- Digital families—connected homes and technology usage: 99% of parents with children aged 2 to 17 have an internet connection in the home. These homes use a range of technologies including; wi-fi (88%), smart TVs (62%), smart speakers (17%) and internet-enabled home security (17%).
- Digital parenting—supervising pre-schoolers online: 81% of parents with pre-schoolers aged 2 to 5 say their children use the internet. Of these parents, 94% report their child was already using the internet by the age of 4.
- Digital parenting—managing screen time: 52% of parents with kids (aged 6 to 12) and 68% of parents with teens (aged 13 to 17) believe their children spend too much time online. Parents reported this was most apparent for children when playing online games, using social media and streaming TV shows. Most parents use a range of strategies to supervise their children’s online activities including talking to them about the amount of time they spend online.
Parenting and pornography
Parents play an important role in protecting their children from online risks such as exposure to pornography. Recognising this, the Office of the eSafety Commissioner in Australia, along with Netsafe in New Zealand and the Safer Internet Centre with the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom (UK) have collaborated on research that explores how parents think and engage with their children on this issue.
This report presents the findings of this joint research effort on parental attitudes to pornography and continues a program of cross-jurisdictional online safety research.
Some key findings include:
- the risk of children’s exposure to pornography was a strong concern for parents
- parents were relatively confident about their ability to seek out relevant information and to deal with their children’s potential exposure to pornography
- only a minority of parents in Australia and New Zealand thought that their children had been exposed to pornography.
Understanding the digital behaviours of older Australians
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner has commissioned research into how older Australians perceive and use digital devices and the internet. This research has been undertaken to inform development of the Be Connected program to provide resources and support training to increase the confidence, skills and online safety of older Australians.
The research comprised:
- A national survey, conducted between of 3,600 older Australians aged 50 years and over.
- Focus groups of 26 respondents who were identified as having no to low digital literacy.
Research findings are presented in a summary report, with the full report also available.
Top level findings from this research are also presented in three infographics including:
- Attitudes and motivation: The majority of older Australians would like to use the internet more, however, this desire decreases with age. While the majority were interested in training to digitally up skill, there was a clear preference for face to face training. This preference was more pronounced for those with no to low digital literacy.
- Confidence: Older Australians who are aged 50 to 69 are significantly more engaged with the internet than their older counterparts. Those who are 70+ years old cited lack of trust, confidence, skills and personal relevance for their digital disengagement.
- Fear: Older Australians have fears about going online. Their fears relate to security concerns and a lack of technical skills. Close to half reported experiences related to virus, scam, credit card and personal information theft.
State of play – youth, kids and digital dangers
‘State of play—youth, kids and digital dangers’ completes the eSafety Office’s research series which examines how young people aged 8–17 in Australia deal with the challenges they face online, including:
- managing their social media
- contact with strangers online
- sharing of personal information and passwords
- dealing with negative online experiences
- how the negative experiences of young people compared to those of Australian adults.
Top 5 negative experiences of young people include:
- being contacted by strangers/someone they did not know, 25%
- being left out by others, 21%
- having mean things said about them/called names, 19%
- receiving repeated unwanted online messages from someone, 13%
- having lies/rumours spread about them, 13%.
Full report
State of play – youth and online gaming
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner has drawn together data from its 2017 Youth Participation Survey in the production of this report into youth and online gaming. As one of the first pieces of research on this topic in Australia, this report aims to better understand the:
- interest among young people in Australia for online gaming and esports, and
- the prevalence of in-game bullying and coping strategies adopted by young people being bullied while playing video games online.
Some key findings from the report:
- Online multiplayer gaming is a very popular activity for young Australians, with 6 in 10 young people aged 8-17 having played these games.
- Nearly 1 in 2 young people have played esport video game titles.
- An estimated 17% of multiplayer gamers experienced in-game bullying.
Research: Image-based abuse
In 2017, the Office commissioned a range of research on image-based abuse. This research included a national survey to determine prevalence, attitudes and support needs, qualitative research with female victims and frontline workers and a study of online distribution channels. This research was undertaken to inform the development of the Office's image-based abuse portal. Related research outputs can be found here.
Research: Young people and sexting
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner (Australia), Netsafe (New Zealand) and UK Safer Internet Centre with the University of Plymouth (UK) have collaborated on research culminating in this report on young people’s experience of sending and sharing nude and nearly nude images, otherwise known as sexting. This work builds on jointly presented research by these agencies at the inaugural Online Safety on the Edge conference in Sydney on 3 November 2017 which was co-hosted by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner and Netsafe New Zealand. The purpose of this shared research is to better understand the:
- prevalence of sending and sharing of both solicited and unsolicited nude or nearly nude images or videos, and
- young people’s influences and motivations for this behaviour.
Research: Social Cohesion
In collaboration with the Department of Education and Training (DET), the Office of the eSafety Commissioner has conducted research to provide an evidence base for policies and programs aimed to promote social cohesion and digital resilience amongst young people.
As part of the research, a national online survey of 2,448 young people aged 12 to 17 was conducted between 25 November and 14 December 2016. Based on this research, the Office has developed three research infographics including:
- Young people’s experience with online hate, bullying and violence: 57 per cent of young people have seen real violence online that disturbed them, 56 per cent have seen racist comments online and 53 per cent have seen or heard hateful comments about cultural or religious groups.
- Young people’s trust and confidence in online information sources: Even though young people spend a large amount of time online, most trust information they see on TV more than information they find online. An overwhelming majority of young people source information about overseas conflicts from TV or online sources, with TV and family being the most trusted information sources.
- Online Relationships: Despite increasing exposure to technology at a younger age, “offline” friendships remain more important to youth, regardless of age or ethnic background, than online relationships. However, about 1 in 4 young people feel they have more freedom and confidence interacting online.
Reseach: Digital Participation
In 2016, the Office undertook a national survey of kids, teens and parents who use the internet. Parents were asked about their approach to online safety, and what information they need to support their children to be safe online. Kids aged 8 to 13 and teens aged 14 to 17 were asked detailed questions about their internet use and online practices, including how they manage their negative experiences online.
The national survey was undertaken in June 2016. It had two parts: a parent survey and a child survey. The total sample comprised 1,367 kids, 912 teens and 2,360 parents. Only one child and one parent were interviewed per household. The survey was conducted online.
Research insights: Young and social online
The Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner has released research about young people’s use of social media and their attitudes towards it. Young and Social Online includes data on the top 5 social media services used, privacy settings and personal information shared on social media by young Australians. Young people’s likes and dislikes about social media are also covered.Australian Government
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
Research insights
Young and social online
More teens than kids use social media. 34% of kids (aged 8 to 13) online use social media, compared with 82% of teens (aged 14 to 17) online.
Focusing on kids and teens who use social media (base: social media users - 53% of kids and teens).
The top five social media services used:
Kids:
Youtube - 66%
Facebook - 56%
Instagram - 53%
Snapchat - 30%
Skype - 25%
Teens:Facebook - 90%
Youtube - 70%
Instagram - 58%
Snapchat - 57%
Skype - 34%.
Number of active social media accounts. On average kids have two accounts, teens have three accounts.
Main social media account:
Facebook: kids - 38%, teens - 56%
Instagram: kids - 27%, teens - 11%
Youtube: kids - 16%, teens - 9%
Snapchat: kids - 8%, teens - 17%
Skype: kids - 3%, teens - 2%
Other: kids - 9%, teens - 6.
Privacy settings on their main social media account: 61% private, 21% partially private, 9% public, 10% not sure.
More teens than kids share personal information on their main social media account.
Photo of face: kids - 47%, teens - 58%
Last name: kids – 27%, teens - 45%
Real age: kids - 21%, teens: 38%.
School / photo of uniform: kids - 19%, teens - 27%.
Phone number / address: kids - 6%, teens - 9%.
The upside of social media.
Keeping connnected to friends and family - 76%.
Entertainment - 69%. Keeping up to date - 45%.
Planning social life - 30%. Self-expression - 26%.
The downside of social media.
Nasty comments - 45%.
Inappropriate or hurtful content - 36%.
Nothing - 30%.
Feeling they have to keep checking it - 23%.
Fear of missing out - 18%.
Source: Survey commissioned by the Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner, June 2016.
Of 2,278 children aged 8 to 17 years with access to the internet. Base of 1,210 children who use social media.
*explore safely
esafety.gov.au
Australian Government
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
Research insights: Connected kids and teens
Being online is an integral part of young people’s lives. The video explores the digital practices of teens and kids. They use a range of devices to go online. There are key differences between the online habits of teens and kids. For example, how they socialise, their online time and types of online activities.
Australian Government
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
Research insights
Connected kids and teens
Aussie families are digitally connected. 96% have WiFi access within the home.
The internet plays a major role in young people's lives. 85% of kids and teens see the internet as important in their lives Kids (8 to 13) years old. Teens (14 to 17) years old.
80% of kids and teens use more than one device to go online. Most popular devices...
Teens: Mobile phones - 78%, Laptops - 76%.
Kids: Tablets - 71%.
Teens spend 74% more time online than kids per week outside of school.
Kids - 19 hours.
Teens - 33 hours.
Going online is more than fun and games.
Schoolwork - 78%.
Watch videos, movies or TV online - 73%.
Research online - 66%.
Play games - 62%.
Listen to music - 60%.
Use social media - 53%.
Teens are more social online than kids.
34% of kids and 82% of teens use social media.
17% of kids and 40% of teens post content online.
26% of kids and 52% of teens use messaging apps.
Boys and girls socialise differently online.
48% of boys and 58% of girls use social media.
31% of boys and 43% of girls use messaging apps.
52% of boys and 26% of girls play interactive multiplayer games.
Source: Survey commissioned by the Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner, June 2016.
Respondents included 2,278 children aged 8 to 17 yearsin Australia with access to the internet.
*explore safely
esafety.gov.au
Australian Government
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
Research insights: Teens, kids and digital dangers
This video presents the findings on kids’ and teens’ negative experiences online, particularly cyberbullying. It sets out the prevalence of specific cyberbullying behaviours, the adverse effects of negative online experiences and any action taken after the incident. It also explores the types of cyberbullying incidents witnessed by kids and teens.
Australian Government
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
Research insights
Teens, kids and digital dangers.
In the 12 months to June 2016 young people were...
- Cyberbullied - 8% of kids and 19% of teens.
- Exposed to inappropriate content - 9% of kids and 17% of teens.
- Contacted by strangers - 5% of kids and 9% of teens.
Cyber bullying takes many forms.
Teens (14-17 years old) who were cyberbullied:
- 43% were socially excluded,
- 39% were called names,
- 38% received repeated unwanted online messages,
- 36% had lies or rumours spread about them,
- 19% received threats to their safety,
- 15% had their accounts accessed by someone without their consent,
- 10% had personal information posted without their consent,
- 9% had inappropriate private photos of them posted without their consent,
- 9% had someone impersonate them.
Kids (8 to 13 years old) who were cyberbullied:
- 50% were socially excluded,
- 39% were called names,
- 28% had lies or rumours spread about them,
- 17% received threats to their safety,
- 12% had someone impersonate them,
- 9% had their accounts accessed by someone without their consent,
- 6% had personal information posted without their consent,
42% of kids and teens were adversely affected after experiencing a negative incident online. 58% felt angry, sad, scared or disempowered,49% struggled with their self-esteem,28% lost friendships or felt socially isolated.
41% of kids and teens took action after experiencing an incident online.66% told their parents,39% told their friends,23% blocked the person.
29% of teens and 12% of kids witnessed cyberbullying.Bystanders saw:
- Someone being teased or called names - 54% of kids and 60% of teens,
- Lies or rumours about others - 40% of kids and 60% of teens,
- Someone being socially excluded - 37% of kids and 46% of teens,
- Threats being made to others - 25% of kids and 37% of teens,
- Someone impersonating someone - 22% of kids,
- Someone being sent repeated unwanted communications - 24% of teens.
Need help with cyberbullying or having material removed?Go to: esafety.gov.au/reportcyberbullying
Source: Survey commissioned by the Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner, June 2016.
Respondents included 2,278 children aged 8 to 17 yearsin Australia with access to the internet.
*explore safely
esafety.gov.au
Australian Government
Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
Other research
Aussie teens and kids online
This research snapshot sheds light on how young people are engaging online, the devices they use and the services and activities that draw them online, providing an update to Aussie teens online released by the ACMA in July 2014.
Understanding the levels of online engagement by young people is the first step in exploring related issues such as trust and online safety, themes which will be explored in future research.
Explore Aussie teens and kids online >>
Social media and kids
Presents data on the number of young Australians accessing social media and game websites including total time spent on these sites, number of web pages of web content viewed and total number of sessions.
ACMA
- Snapshot: Aussie Teens Online, 2014.
- Like, post, share: Young Australians’ experience of social media, 2013.