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What does research tell us about 8-9 year olds online

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What does research tell us about 8-9 year olds online

The ACMA research project Media and Communications in Australian Families 2007 is an in-depth study of young people’s use of electronic media and the way that parents mediate that use.

The research involved a representative telephone survey of parents from 751 family households across Australia and a three-day time-use diary completed by 1003 young people aged 8–17 years.

The research shows that in 2007, children in middle primary years were emerging users of internet-enabled computers and mobile phones. Children 8–9 years reported participating in a range of internet and mobile phone activities over a three day period.

  • 32 per cent used the internet to play online games against other players.
  • 23 per cent used the internet to complete homework.
  • 16 per cent used mobile phones for talking.
  • 10 per cent used computers for messaging.
  • 8 per cent used computers for watching/listening to media.
  • 7 per cent used computers for social networking.
  • 5 per cent used a mobile phone for messaging.