From entertainment to extortion: Tunisian children's online experiences.
Focus group
Internet harms
Online risks
children's resilience
Journal
Child abuse & neglect
ISSN: 1873-7757
Titre abrégé: Child Abuse Negl
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7801702
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 2023
11 2023
Historique:
received:
14
02
2023
revised:
11
08
2023
accepted:
14
08
2023
medline:
25
9
2023
pubmed:
29
8
2023
entrez:
28
8
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become a fundamental part of children's lives and development. However, children need to acquire the skills and knowledge to manage the risks that technology presents. This child-centric research on children's online experiences aims to understand the benefits Tunisian children derive from the internet, the risks and harms to which they are exposed, and how aware and resilient Tunisian children are to these online risks and harms. 113 children, aged 13-17, participated in focus groups in five governorates across Tunisia. Qualitative data was collected from 16 focus group discussions then data was analyzed using inductive and deductive thematic coding. The internet offers Tunisian children educational, social, entertainment, and mental health benefits, in addition to personal development and commercial opportunities. Hacking and the use of fake Facebook profiles were highlighted as facilitators of online bullying, sexual harassment, and extortion, all of which disproportionately affected girls. Children demonstrated personal responsibility for their online activity but recognized that children and parents should have greater awareness about the risks the internet poses. The young people included in the study reported that they enjoy numerous benefits from internet access and demonstrate some resilience to online risks and harms. However, there is a need for societal and institutional change, through a combination of awareness raising, targeted support for children and parents, and improving the capacity of key actors to prevent online violence while ensuring an effective response and victim support.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become a fundamental part of children's lives and development. However, children need to acquire the skills and knowledge to manage the risks that technology presents.
OBJECTIVES
This child-centric research on children's online experiences aims to understand the benefits Tunisian children derive from the internet, the risks and harms to which they are exposed, and how aware and resilient Tunisian children are to these online risks and harms.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
113 children, aged 13-17, participated in focus groups in five governorates across Tunisia.
METHODS
Qualitative data was collected from 16 focus group discussions then data was analyzed using inductive and deductive thematic coding.
RESULTS
The internet offers Tunisian children educational, social, entertainment, and mental health benefits, in addition to personal development and commercial opportunities. Hacking and the use of fake Facebook profiles were highlighted as facilitators of online bullying, sexual harassment, and extortion, all of which disproportionately affected girls. Children demonstrated personal responsibility for their online activity but recognized that children and parents should have greater awareness about the risks the internet poses.
CONCLUSIONS
The young people included in the study reported that they enjoy numerous benefits from internet access and demonstrate some resilience to online risks and harms. However, there is a need for societal and institutional change, through a combination of awareness raising, targeted support for children and parents, and improving the capacity of key actors to prevent online violence while ensuring an effective response and victim support.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37639772
pii: S0145-2134(23)00393-9
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106405
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
106405Informations de copyright
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