EU Kids Online II: a large-scale quantitative approach to the study of European children's use of the internet and online risks and safety

The EU Kids Online II project built on the previous project's literature review and development of methods to generate detailed cross-national evidence about children's use, risks and harms online. The project aimed to provide comparable survey data that permit the joint elaboration of social policies for Internet use and protection for young people. It conducted in-home, face-to-face personal interviews with 9- to 16-year-olds and, separately, with one of their parents of each child interviewed, across 25 countries in Europe. Nationally representative survey samples were drawn in each country, resulting in just over 25,000 interviews with children (and parents) being carried out in total. The interviews were primarily closed-ended, with an open-ended (qualitative) element and with sensitive questions being asked privately in confidence. There are several key findings from the data collected. First, while higher use is positively correlated with higher risk online, this is not necessarily problematic as it can allow children to build resilience. Second, a majority of children are online and mobile already, making their online lives potentially as important as their offline lives. Finally, the project makes a series of recommendations for stakeholders with regard to online opportunities, awareness-raising, digital and safety skills, active and restrictive forms of parenting and children's coping strategies, all of which can positively or negatively affect a child's engagement with the online environment.