22nd January 2012
Introduction:
The JIM-Study (Jugend, Information, (Multi-) Media) is a representative long-term study that investigates media use of young people between the ages 12 and 19. The study is conducted by the Medienpädagogische Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs) for already 13 years, and is thus an integral part of research in the field of media education. It provides information about the use of television, radio, books, mobile phones, computer, internet as well as computer and console games. The focus of the study of 2011 is social networking, and especially data protection. In the following I am going to present the results via a diashow of all charts provided by the JIM-Study. After that I am going to summarize the results concerning online community and data protection according to the focus of last year's study.
Selected results:
_Computer and internet are a natural and integral part of almost all youngsters’ lives. Four fifth of all youngsters have their own computer and use it regularly. In sum the study shows that 65% of all persons questioned use the internet on a daily basis. According to the evaluation of their use, the study comes up with an average of 134 minutes of internet per day. This number increases with the age of the youngsters.
They spend most of their time on communication via social networks, messengers, e-mails or chat-rooms. Games (16%), fishing for information (15%) and entertainment (e.g. music, videos, pictures) (24%) are other important online activities besides communication. Despite this regularly use of the internet, most of the youngsters do not actively contribute to the internet with own contents such as blogs, pod casts or tweets. Only every forth youngster uses web 2.0 on a weekly basis.
As already stated the basic function of the internet the persons questioned is communication. They communicate mainly with the help of online communities and social networks. In comparison to 2010, when 71% used online communities daily or several times a week, the number increased to 78% in 2011. Whereas approximately 80% of the 14-19 year olds uses facebook, 43% of the 12-13 year olds uses schülerVZ besides facebook. Chatting (73%) and sending of messages (71%) are the most frequently used functions within online communities.
What concerns data protection the exposition of personal data decreased from 2009 (83%) to 2011 (73%). A reason for this might be the increase of critical discussion about security on the web in the public. Many youngsters take advantage of privacy options provided by the online platforms they use. Circa 50% of the persons questioned states that in relation to their online data they feel safe. One forth feels less safe especially with regard to facebook. Approximately one half of the youngsters is aware that the operators of the online communities use their personal data for other purposes. Nevertheless more than 60% feel comfortable about their knowledge on data protection and with an increasing age the youngsters inform themselves about data protection (12-13: 49% ;18-19: 85%).
They spend most of their time on communication via social networks, messengers, e-mails or chat-rooms. Games (16%), fishing for information (15%) and entertainment (e.g. music, videos, pictures) (24%) are other important online activities besides communication. Despite this regularly use of the internet, most of the youngsters do not actively contribute to the internet with own contents such as blogs, pod casts or tweets. Only every forth youngster uses web 2.0 on a weekly basis.
As already stated the basic function of the internet the persons questioned is communication. They communicate mainly with the help of online communities and social networks. In comparison to 2010, when 71% used online communities daily or several times a week, the number increased to 78% in 2011. Whereas approximately 80% of the 14-19 year olds uses facebook, 43% of the 12-13 year olds uses schülerVZ besides facebook. Chatting (73%) and sending of messages (71%) are the most frequently used functions within online communities.
What concerns data protection the exposition of personal data decreased from 2009 (83%) to 2011 (73%). A reason for this might be the increase of critical discussion about security on the web in the public. Many youngsters take advantage of privacy options provided by the online platforms they use. Circa 50% of the persons questioned states that in relation to their online data they feel safe. One forth feels less safe especially with regard to facebook. Approximately one half of the youngsters is aware that the operators of the online communities use their personal data for other purposes. Nevertheless more than 60% feel comfortable about their knowledge on data protection and with an increasing age the youngsters inform themselves about data protection (12-13: 49% ;18-19: 85%).
Short comment:
At last I want to comment on two aspects of the results I mentioned above.
First, I am really pleased about the fact that the personal data that youngsters put on the internet has decreased over the last two years. This shows that critical discussions about the use of the internet bear fruit and internet users have gained a certain media awareness.
Second, although 60% of the youngsters feel comfortable about their knowledge of data protection, one has to be aware that 40% do not. Moreover only 49% of the 12-13 year olds inform themselves about data protection. Consequently, there is still an urgent need for media education, especially in lower grades.
First, I am really pleased about the fact that the personal data that youngsters put on the internet has decreased over the last two years. This shows that critical discussions about the use of the internet bear fruit and internet users have gained a certain media awareness.
Second, although 60% of the youngsters feel comfortable about their knowledge of data protection, one has to be aware that 40% do not. Moreover only 49% of the 12-13 year olds inform themselves about data protection. Consequently, there is still an urgent need for media education, especially in lower grades.