The totally natural way our children approach the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) provides them with undeniable benefits in educational, social and leisure terms. Nonetheless, there also exists a series of risks related to the ICT, which can prove particularly hazardous for our youngsters. For this reason, in order to ensure children and adolescents can enjoy the ICT to the full and take advantage of the innumerable possibilities they have to offer, it is essential they be aware of what the risks are and how to confront them. In this way, the trust their parents place in the ICT will likewise increase, thus facilitating their incorporation into the Knowledge Society.

Within this context, the goal of the present study is to produce a diagnosis of the situation in Spain with respect to the ICT usage habits of Spanish youngsters, as well as of the knowledge held regarding information security and the security tools most widely utilised. The methodology employed – based on carrying out 1,200 interviews with children between 10 and 16 years old and their parents or legal guardians – enables the views of both groups to be contrasted. The report is enriched with the contributions of 36 experts, whose views were designed to ensure a global, multidisciplinary approach to the project.

The study offers a complete overview of the current reality of these aspects in Spanish society, followed by a series of recommendations for the different actors and groups involved (administrations, industry and educational sector), with the ultimate goal of contributing towards ensuring Internet becomes a safer place for young children and adolescents.

The complete report is also available in Spanish.