08.02.2010

Survey by Safer Internet Day project: pictures and videos a natural part of the young people's use of the internet

Looking for pictures and viewing them online is a natural part of the use of the internet of the majority of the children and young people. Ninety-one per cent of children and the young in the age group of 9-15 occasionally look for pictures and view them on the internet. Instead, children and the young do not share their own pictures online as often, up to 60 per cent of the children and the young never do so. The results are from the 'Online photo sharing' survey commissioned by the Safer Internet Day project.

Your picture online - no regrets!

However, sharing pictures or videos representing themselves online with people they know is becoming more popular the older the respondent is: about half of the young in the age group of 12-15 do so at least sometimes. On the basis of the survey, publishing pictures seldom brings second thoughts, but about 10 per cent of the respondents had regretted it at least sometimes. Similarly, about every tenth respondent had found embarrassing pictures of themselves online that someone else had published. Over 12-year-olds share pictures in the social media as part of their social interaction.

On the basis of the survey, the young know quite well how to use the security options of online services: about 42 per cent of the respondents have restricted the viewing rights of their pictures.

Girls hunt for celebrities, boys are after funny videos

Girls and boys have rather different tastes in viewing pictures and videos online - except for music videos. Girls look for pictures of celebrities, friends and animals whereas boys look for fun, hobbies, TV series and movies. For over 12-year olds, sharing pictures and videos is part of their social interaction.

Scary pictures appal and appeal

Every second teenager has come across scary or violent pictures of movies on the internet. Although the majority of these pictures have not created strong feelings, every fourth announced that scary material appalled. Every fifth told they wish they had never come across scary material.

The survey results reveal that every fourth 9-11 year-old is interested in or likes violent or scary pictures or videos online.

Reliable adult is enough for online education

The Safer Internet Day project encourages parents to be interested in their children's use of the internet and discuss their online life on a daily basis. No technical skills are needed for children's online education. However, studies show that presence and attention support the pros of the use of the digital media and prevents risks. It is worthwhile to create clear rules for publishing pictures and other personal information and the use of the internet.

According to the 'Online photo sharing' survey, even the children and the young wish that their parents would support them in internet-related matters and tell them about internet-related risks. In other words, online safety education has brought results on the basis of this survey: children and the young are at least somewhat informed.

Children and young from the age group of 9-15 participated in the 'Online photo sharing' survey. The survey was commissioned by the Safer Internet Day project and implemented by InterQuest Oy. Especially certain organisations belonging to the Safer Internet Day project, such as the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, Save the Children Finland and the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority have contributed to the work.

The research report (in Finnish) [PDF, 4 MB]

Safer Internet Week - Think before you >click<

The national Safer Internet Day will be celebrated on 8-13 February. This year's main theme is publishing images online. During the Safer Internet Day Week and on the Safer Internet Day, the discussion focuses on publishing pictures from the viewpoint of protection of privacy, copyrights and online bullying. The slogan - Think before you >click< - reminds of the subject. Read more about the themes and events of the Safer Internet Week at www.tietoturvakoulu.fi and www.tietoturvaopas.fi.

Further information:

Anna Lauttamus-Kauppila, Communications Director, FICORA +358 50 563 5724, anna.lauttamus-kauppila@ficora.fi

Heli Alanko, Project Coordinator, FICORA +358 40 581 1188, heli.alanko@ficora.fi

Project participants: Project partners: D-Fence Ltd, DNA Ltd, Elisa Corporation, Enter, FiCom, fiMUG, Finnet Association, F-Secure Corporation, National Emergency Supply Agency, University of Jyväskylä, Central Chamber of Commerce, Consumer Agency, Office of the Ombudsman for Children in Finland, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, Finnish Society on Media Education, Meidän Perhe -magazine, Microsoft Corporation, Finnish National Board of Education, Ministry of Education, Save the Children Finland, Finnish Police, Sulake Corporation, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Finnish Parents’ Association, Federation of Finnish Enterprises, Copyright Information and Anti-Piracy Centre in Finland, TeliaSonera Finland, Finnish Information Society Development Centre, Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman in Finland, Finnish Information Security Association, Technical Research Centre of Finland, Väestöliitto - Family Federation, and Population Register Centre of Finland.