Dataset Information

Objective Assessment of the Nature and Extent of Children's Internet-Based World: Protocol for the Kids Online Aotearoa Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Children under 18 years of age account for approximately 1 in 3 internet users worldwide. Largely unregulated, the internet-based world is evolving rapidly and becoming increasingly intrusive. There is a dearth of objective research globally on children's real-time experiences of the internet-based world.

Objective

This paper reports an objective methodology to study the nature and extent of children's internet-based world, their engagement with it, and how this impacts their health and well-being.

Methods

A total of 180 year 8 students from 12 schools will be recruited into the study within the Wellington region of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Children use Zoom video teleconferencing software to record real-time, screen-shared internet-based content, for 4 consecutive days. Data on demographics, health and well-being, and attitudes and perceived behaviors in relation to the internet-based world are collected. Phone screen-time balances are retrieved. Data collection commenced in June 2021 and is anticipated to be completed in 2023.

Results

Recordings show children exploring diverse web-based settings and content, including personalized content curated by algorithms on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Preliminary analysis shows that the data can be used to study a wide range of topics. Behavioral Observation Research Interaction Software is being used to manually code recordings. Artificial Intelligence techniques are also being applied, including hashtag extraction, optical character recognition, as well as object, pattern, speech, and lyric recognition.

Conclusions

This novel methodology reveals the unique internet-based experiences of children. It is underpinned by a commitment to ensuring that their rights are protected. It seeks to provide concrete evidence on internet usage in this group and to facilitate appropriate political and societal action to effectively regulate the internet-based world to prevent harm to children.

International registered report identifier (irrid)

DERR1-10.2196/39017.

SUBMITTER: Gurtner M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9597417 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Objective Assessment of the Nature and Extent of Children's Internet-Based World: Protocol for the Kids Online Aotearoa Study.

Gurtner Marcus M Smith Moira M Gage Ryan R Howey-Brown Anna A Wang Xinyi X Latavao Tevita T D Deng Jeremiah J P Zwanenburg Sander S Stanley James J Signal Louise L

JMIR research protocols 20221011 10

<h4>Background</h4>Children under 18 years of age account for approximately 1 in 3 internet users worldwide. Largely unregulated, the internet-based world is evolving rapidly and becoming increasingly intrusive. There is a dearth of objective research globally on children's real-time experiences of the internet-based world.<h4>Objective</h4>This paper reports an objective methodology to study the nature and extent of children's internet-based world, their engagement with it, and how this impacts ...[more]

PMID: 36129809

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Dataset Information

Objective Assessment of the Nature and Extent of Children's Internet-Based World: Protocol for the Kids Online Aotearoa Study.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

International registered report identifier (irrid)

Publications

Objective Assessment of the Nature and Extent of Children's Internet-Based World: Protocol for the Kids Online Aotearoa Study.

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