A new report by the Family Online Safety Institute, surveying 3,000 parents and teenagers reveals that teens believe staying online improves their well-being.
Teenagers in Brazil (95%), US (87%) and Germany (87%) said that they often find some positive situations or content when they are online. 75% Brazilian teens, 63% American teens and 58% German teens reported that they often encountered at least one negative situation as a result of staying online. This is an interesting study because many of the narratives were about teens and parents saying that they are being negatively affected by staying online.
Teenagers were also asked what positive situation they encountered as a result of staying online. 60% in the US, 58% in Germany and 75% in Brazil said that they learned a new thing or expanded their knowledge. 73% Brazilian teens, 58% American teens and 53% German teens also said that staying online helped them stay connected to their family and friends. When they were asked what negative experience did they encounter the most online, 49% Brazilian, 38% American and 32% German teens said that they often get the need to check their notifications and reactions, followed by constantly thinking about online activities (48% in Brazil, 29% in US and 25% in Germany)
The study also asked what activity they do the most online, and gaming was the top activity for teenagers in the US (54%) and Brazil (64%). 47% American teens and 57% Brazilian teens also named consuming content the second top activity they do the most online. 54% of the German teens consume online content the most, followed by connecting with others (53%) and gaming (49%). 41% of the parents and 44% of teens are on the same page about connecting with peers being the biggest advantage of staying online. 28% of parents and friends are also concerned about getting scammed online, as well as online bullying and negative interactions with strangers.
Parents in the US and Brazil (44% and 48%) and teens in the US and Brazil (45% and 45%) said that the biggest disadvantage of staying online is their sleep quality worsening. 38% of parents and 37% of teens in Germany also think that online activity is ruining their sleep. Parents in the US and Brazil (84% and 93%) think that better default privacy settings can improve the well-being of teens. 73% teens in the US and 84% of teens in Brazil agree to that. 79% parents in Germany also agree with that, but 62% of German teens also think that media literacy education should also be a requirement to improve online well being.
Read next: New Report Suggests YouTube is Pushing Weight Loss and Eating Disorder Content to Young Girls
Teenagers in Brazil (95%), US (87%) and Germany (87%) said that they often find some positive situations or content when they are online. 75% Brazilian teens, 63% American teens and 58% German teens reported that they often encountered at least one negative situation as a result of staying online. This is an interesting study because many of the narratives were about teens and parents saying that they are being negatively affected by staying online.
Teenagers were also asked what positive situation they encountered as a result of staying online. 60% in the US, 58% in Germany and 75% in Brazil said that they learned a new thing or expanded their knowledge. 73% Brazilian teens, 58% American teens and 53% German teens also said that staying online helped them stay connected to their family and friends. When they were asked what negative experience did they encounter the most online, 49% Brazilian, 38% American and 32% German teens said that they often get the need to check their notifications and reactions, followed by constantly thinking about online activities (48% in Brazil, 29% in US and 25% in Germany)
The study also asked what activity they do the most online, and gaming was the top activity for teenagers in the US (54%) and Brazil (64%). 47% American teens and 57% Brazilian teens also named consuming content the second top activity they do the most online. 54% of the German teens consume online content the most, followed by connecting with others (53%) and gaming (49%). 41% of the parents and 44% of teens are on the same page about connecting with peers being the biggest advantage of staying online. 28% of parents and friends are also concerned about getting scammed online, as well as online bullying and negative interactions with strangers.
Parents in the US and Brazil (44% and 48%) and teens in the US and Brazil (45% and 45%) said that the biggest disadvantage of staying online is their sleep quality worsening. 38% of parents and 37% of teens in Germany also think that online activity is ruining their sleep. Parents in the US and Brazil (84% and 93%) think that better default privacy settings can improve the well-being of teens. 73% teens in the US and 84% of teens in Brazil agree to that. 79% parents in Germany also agree with that, but 62% of German teens also think that media literacy education should also be a requirement to improve online well being.
Read next: New Report Suggests YouTube is Pushing Weight Loss and Eating Disorder Content to Young Girls
