Findings!

Abstract

Interactive media technologies like the Internet and video games have opened new avenues of opportunity for many, yet at the same time they represent new challenges and risks, especially for young people.

In our study, eleven families were interviewed. Their perceptions, experiences and risk management are described in this paper. The children we interviewed were not high media consumers. The vast majority appeared to have a positive attitude towards the Internet, and had learned to handle common interactive media challenges and risk. Nonetheless some online behaviors which we consider risky were indeed commonly practiced. The most commonly encountered risk experienced by children in our study was exposure to undesirable content. Yet, in a group of eleven children two had been victim of cyberbullying and one had been harassed by some classmate or family member.

The most recurrent negative comments parents made about the internet or video games and children were about the danger of being contacted by strangers, as well as the excessive use of the interactive media technologies

Keywords:  Internet risk, online challenges, online dangers, video games, digital competence and parents, children and internet

Hello, Parents & Students!

 

We want to invite you to collaborate with us in the exploration of online challenges and risk among youth.

 

Today, the intensive use and access to media technologies such internet and video games by our younger generations have brought us many new opportunities; but also, it represents new challenges in order to ensure the safety and healthy development of our youth.  For this reason, we are interested in exploring the challenges and risks related to internet use among young people.

 

 

What is it?

It is a qualitative research about the challenges and risks related to internet use among young people. It is a final project for the course ‘Children, culture and globalization’ at the department of Child and Youth Studies at Stockholm University in Sweden.

 

 

What we are doing?

We are inviting parents and young people between the ages of 12 and 16 years old to an interview about your online experiences, focus in online challenges and risks. The interviews will be conducted by Angelica Ortiz, psychologist and Rawia Eltayeb, preschool teacher.

 

Who can participated?

 Young people between ages 12 to 16 years old and as well as their parents.

We are mainly interested in the Swedish population living in Stockholm,  Uppsala and Gävle area but, if you live in other part of Sweden or in other parts of the world we can arrange communication via internet, using Skype, MSN other communication software with you are familiar.

 

How we will do it?

Two individual interviews would conduct. One with the child and, another with a parent.

 

The interviews will be in English, although we speak and understand Swedish, and will need to be recorded.  It may take 30-50 minutes with the youth and 30 – 60 minutes with the parent, at a location and time that is suitable for you always that you live in Stockholm, Uppsala and Gävle area.

The interviews with the students will take place at the school for their security and parents and teachers peace-of-mind.

 

We want to emphasize that you are guaranteed complete anonymity.  All data will be decoded and your names will remain anonymous.

 

When?

We intend to conduct these interviews in April and no later May 11th. The official result of this thesis will be presented at Stockholm University in the beginning of June 2009. The thesis is supervise by Karin Sandqvist. 

Additional interviews can take place after this dates. If you would like to participate please contact us at: info@cyberpsyke.org

  

Please, don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to take part in this interview or if you have any further questions.

 

Also, we would be very thankful if you could recommend to us anyone you feel may be interested in participating.

 

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to meeting you!

Please, contact us at:

 angelica.ortiz@cyberpsyke.org  0763165406   Skype: ‘cyberpsyke’