Children, Risk and Safety on the Internet

With increasingly younger children using the Internet on their own, there is a growing need for research that examines both the risks and opportunities young children face on the web. Such information is critical for determining the ways in which children can navigate this wonderful—and dangerous— world. With expert contributions from a diverse range of disciplines and a cross-national breadth, Children, Risk and Safety on the Internet examines the many online opportunities children have for learning, creativity, and communication and how they can safely access them amid the dangers of cyberbullying, pornography, and privacy invasion.

Based on an impressive, in-depth survey of twenty-five thousand children carried out by the EU Kids Online network, this book presents wholly new findings that offer important counters to both the optimistic and pessimistic arguments surrounding child safety on the Internet. It finds compelling evidence that children are gaining important digital skills as well as strong strategies and social support for dealing with the Internet’s fast-changing terrain. At the same time, it identifies the many struggles children face, pinpointing important areas where harm can follow from risky online encounters. With a simultaneous breadth and depth of evidence and analysis, Children, Risk and Safety on the Internet provides comprehensive and important information for anyone interested in safe and positive digital experiences for our youth.