IMLRF AdminBlog

The Department for Education has announced the publication of a six-month independent review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. The Bailey Review, which reported today, “calls on businesses and media to play their part in ending the drift towards an increasingly sexualised ‘wallpaper’ that surrounds children.

Robin Blake, former Head of Media Literacy at Ofcom, recently joined the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) to lead its work on Internet and Society. “As recent events in the region clearly demonstrate, the development of the internet and social media in particular, has a real impact on the lives of millions of people. Qatar has the vision and resources to ensure that all those living in Qatar benefit from the many opportunities created by effective use of digital communication technologies.

Based on a survey of 25 countries, this new report from EU Kids Online

The latest report from EU Kids Online looks at Children's Digital Literacy and Safety Skills. It states:

Children’s digital skills were assessed by asking 25,000 European 9-16 year old internet users about their online activities, skills and self-efficacy.

The report found that the range of digital skills and online activities are linked. But many younger (11-13 year old) children lack key critical and safety skills. Also, skills are unequally distributed by socio-economic status.

Nearly half of European 11-16 year olds agree that they find it easier to be themselves on the internet than when they are with people face-to-face, and one in eight young people (12%) st

In connection with the Safer Internet Day on 8 February 2011, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has published a selection of statistics concerning internet security.

Research and evidence is vital to inform the promotion of a safer online environment for children. The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) Evidence Champion, Professor Sonia Livingstone and Evidence Group aim to provide UKCCIS with a research strategy plus a timely, critical and rigorous account of available research relevant to the ongoing work of UKCCIS.

Internet companies should provide more ways for children to block, filter or report alarming online content and contacts, recommends a new study for the European Commission.

Excessive use of the internet is very high among children in the UK with one in five admitting they have gone without food or sleep to stay online. 

Europeans are becoming increasingly "digital" according to a European Commission Eurobarometer survey which questioned 27,000 households throughout the EU on their use of internet, telephones and TV. More Europeans are subscribing to broadband internet and digital television in fixed-cost bundled 'packages'. Increased broadband take-up means even more Europeans are going online with 35% now using social networking websites.