site.btaEU Project: Bulgarian Children among First in Europe in Daily Internet Use

106 SOCIETY-CHILDREN-INTERNET-EU PROJECT

EU Project: Bulgarian Children
among First in Europe
in Daily Internet Use


Sofia, November 4 (BTA) - A European project has found that
Bulgarian children rank among the first in Europe in terms of
daily Internet access and use. It also says there are vast
differences between the generations, as children are more
Internet-savvy than their parents.

These finding are contained in a report put forwards by the
European research network European Kids Online, which is
coordinated by the London School of Economics and Political
Science. The Applied Research and Communications Fund and the
Gender Education, Research and Technologies Foundation are the
network's Bulgarian partners.

The final report contains findings and recommendations for
children's online safety contributed by more than 150
researchers of 33 countries.

Between 2011 and 2014, the way in which children use Internet
changed significantly with the most drastic change being that
Internet use is no longer limited to one location.

Researchers have found considerable differences among European
children regarding access to sexual content, while online
bullying and oversharing are spread in equal measure across
Europe.

More frequent Internet use helps children develop their digital
skills. However, the wider access and better digital skills
involve greater risks. Key to Internet safety are parents,
teachers, friends, social values and national policies.

The EU Kids Online project aims to increase the awareness of
children and their parents of safer use of Internet and the new
technologies and promote a safer Internet environment for
children. The project is funded under the European Commission's
Safer Internet Programme. LI/PP