Report: Online Activity of Irish Children

The Net Children Go Mobile project is a European survey that investigates through quantitative and qualitative methods how the changing conditions of internet access and use – namely, mobile internet and mobile-convergent media – bring greater, fewer or newer risks to children’s online safety.

Participating countries included Denmark, Italy, Romania, the UK, Belgium, Ireland and Portugal.

It presents the findings of a survey that involved 2,500 children aged 9-16 who are internet users and their parents, in Denmark, Italy, Romania and the UK.

The Irish component of this survey was conducted between November and December 2013.

The survey quite neatly breaks down activities across two demographics – 9 to 12 year olds and 13 to 16 year olds. One interesting fact (among many) is that the 9 to 12 year olds have a tendency to play video games on smart phones, while the 13 to 16 year olds are far more likely to listen to music or engage in social media.

While this survey brings up many interesting findings, the insight that jumps out as a clear indication the future of online is mobile is that (with the exception of 9-10 year olds) all children and young people are more likely to use their smartphones than use a laptop to go online.

There is a separate document for the Irish part of this survey, and it can be accessed on the second link on this page – http://www.netchildrengomobile.eu/reports/