Can parents trust their 13 year old daughter when she surfs the web? Do they know for sure that their 11 year old son's mobile phone conversation is safe? A Commission survey of children from all over Europe has looked into how they use new media.

"This is the first time children all across Europe have been asked directly how they use online technologies, how much they browse for fun and for schoolwork, and how they deal with risks," says Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media. Eurobarometer's qualitative survey interviewed children of 9-10 and 12-14 years old from all 27 EU Member States plus Norway and Iceland. They were asked in-depth about how they use online technologies, and how they would react to problems and risks when using the internet and mobile phones.

The survey shows that children use technologies in very similar ways all across Europe. Online gaming, surfing and communication are considered as the top activities online while texting, and talking with parents and friends come out top for young mobile users. The majority use the internet several times a day, and also own a personal mobile phone. Internet use is to some extent limited by parents while the use of mobile phones is much freer and less supervised.

The results show that children are globally well aware of the potential online risks, such as security, viruses, access to unwanted content, identity theft and potential dangerous contact with strangers. Many of them are also well aware of the necessary precautions they need to take.

Even though young people know about of the risks and precautions, most would rather try to solve the problem themselves or with friends, and would talk to their parents only as a last resort in the most serious cases.

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Findings from the Eurobarometer on children's use of online technologies.