Research into Children’s Online Engagement and Behaviours

New research funded by Coimisiún na Meán will provide a comprehensive analysis of children’s views and experiences of online engagement, building on our existing study with second-level students. The proposed study will focus on school children in the latter half of the primary education cycle in Ireland, addressing a gap in research that has typically focused on adolescents. At this stage, many children are transitioning into the digital world for the first time and creating social media profiles, which presents both opportunities and risks.

The ESRI research team is currently conducting a complementary study focusing on adolescents at post-primary schools in Ireland, providing a strong foundation for the design of a coherent and age-appropriate study centred on the experiences and perspectives of younger children. Children’s views may differ substantially from those of older adolescents, for example, regarding their access to the digital world and the importance of digital literacy and classroom peer effects in shaping this access, as well as their perceptions of digital technology policies currently under public discussion.

The study will inform the work of An Coimisiún and national policy in relation to children's online engagement. The ESRI will leverage its mission of evidence-grounded policy research to ensure that Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Framework continues to be informed by children’s voices.