A child’s home and school are the most frequently reported locations of internet use in Brazil: 60% of Brazilian children aged 9 to 16 who used the internet claimed to access it from home, and 42% from school, whereas in Europe this proportion is 87% for home access and 63% for schools.
However, when it comes to accessing the network from publicly sponsored internet access centres such as Local Area Network (LAN) Houses or cybercafés, the value in Brazil is considerably higher when compared to Europe, 35% against 12% respectively. Access from public libraries is far more popular in Europe (12%) than in Brazil (4%).
In terms of online risks, content-related risks rank as the highest concern among children, reported by about half of children in Europe and Brazil (58% and 49%, respectively). However, conduct-related risks present a bigger difference (19% against 30%, respectively). Contact-related risks are reported less frequently in both samples (13% and 12%, respectively).
Regarding experiences that bother children online, the two most reported experiences were found to be similar in both Brazil and Europe: pornography and aggressive/violent content. The next highest internet concern reported by European children referred to scary content (8%), while Brazilian children are concerned with peers’ conduct in disseminating messages that damage their reputation (10%).
It can be said that young internet users in Brazil and in Europe share similar patterns of use and activities. These similarities suggest a transnational digital culture and socialisation that includes both old and new concerns.
This report presents selected findings from the first wave of data collection carried out in 2012 in Brazil. Given the common methodological framework, the findings offer an opportunity to compare internet use and concerns as expressed by children and young people in two contrasting parts of the world yet experiencing many common aspects of the global internet.
For further information, please use the download of the report which is provided on this side.