The internalization of Russia is going on. But the World Wide Web creates not only new opportunities, but new risks for children, according to Russians.
MOSCOW, April 7, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information describing how many Russians use the Internet and what impact the Internet has on children.
The share of Russians who use the Internet keeps increasing year-by-year. Every fifth Russian surfed the World Wide Web ten years ago (23% in 2006), compared to 68% of Russians now. The share of the most active Internet users has increased nine-fold (from 5% in 2006 to 45% in 2014). Every day the Internet is used basically by young Russians (78% of 18-24 year olds persons and 73% of 24-35 year olds), respondents with higher education diplomas (62%) and high level of income (60%). Currently only 32% of respondents do not use the Internet (vs. 76% in 2006).
As the Internet is getting more and more popular, one of the most acute questions today remains what role the Internet plays in the life of children. Every second Russian (55%) reports problems with actual interaction among children who use the Internet very actively. This stance is equally shared by those who have (55%) and who have not (54%) minors. At the same time, 38% of respondents believe that this statement contradicts reality. Besides, 52% of Russians believe that the World Wide Web can cause addiction among children. However, 43% say that strict parental control can protect children.
More than half of Russians (57%) are anxious that the Internet is full of harmful information (aggressive, abusive erotic content) which makes it hard to protect the child from it. Thirty-six percent of Russians are confident that due to modern technologies any undesirable content can be blocked. Persons who are most concerned about harmful information from the Internet are respondents aged 60 and over (61%); 18-24-year-old Russians say that there is protection against it (48%).
The global information space contents information which is useful for children’s development. More than two-thirds of Russians (69%) report that there is plenty of good information that can be used for educational purposes (games, educational programs et cet.). Those who think so are mainly active Internet users (80%) and young Russians aged 18-24 (84%). Twenty-three percent of Russians believe that there is no good information for children in the Internet.
Russians split on the question whether the Internet causes children`s disobedience and aggressiveness. Whereas 47% blame the Internet stating that it makes children more aggressive, 42% oppose them saying that there are other reasons for that.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on March 29-30, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Do you use the Internet? If yes, how often? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | III.2010 | IV. 2011 | IV.2012 | III.2013 | III.2014 |
Almost every day | 5 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 23 | 30 | 38 | 43 | 45 |
Several times per week | 8 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 15 |
Several times per month | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
From time to time, but not less than once per half a year | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Don`t use | 76 | 73 | 69 | 69 | 60 | 47 | 43 | 32 | 32 |
Don`t know | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
What statement is closer to yours? (close-ended question, one answer per each pair of statements) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those who use the Internet almost every day | Several times per week; several times per month | Those who do not use the Internet or use it from time to time |
Children actively using the Internet have problems of interaction with actual people | 55 | 53 | 58 | 56 |
Internet does not impede actual human interaction | 38 | 44 | 39 | 30 |
Don`t know | 7 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
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Internet is full of harmful information (erotic, abusive, aggressive) which makes it hard to protect the child from this information | 57 | 51 | 61 | 62 |
Modern technologies can protect children from undesirable information | 36 | 46 | 35 | 23 |
Don`t know | 7 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
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Internet causes addiction among children | 52 | 45 | 56 | 60 |
With the parental control the Internet will not cause addiction among children | 43 | 53 | 42 | 29 |
Don`t know | 5 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
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Internet makes children aggressive and defiant | 47 | 41 | 52 | 52 |
The reason why children are aggressive and defiant is not the Internet | 42 | 53 | 38 | 31 |
Don`t know | 11 | 6 | 10 | 16 |
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Internet is full of information useful for children: educational programs, games et cet. | 69 | 80 | 67 | 54 |
Internet does not content information useful for children | 23 | 17 | 30 | 27 |
Don`t know | 8 | 2 | 3 | 19 |
Which of the following statements is closer to yours? (close-ended question, one answer per each pair of statements) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Children actively using the Internet have problems of interaction with actual people | 55 | 46 | 52 | 58 | 59 | 55 |
Internet does not impede actual human interaction | 38 | 49 | 44 | 37 | 34 | 31 |
Don`t know | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 13 |
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Internet is full of harmful information (erotic, abusive, aggressive) which makes it hard to protect the child from this information | 57 | 49 | 54 | 55 | 61 | 61 |
Modern technologies can protect children from undesirable information | 36 | 48 | 42 | 40 | 32 | 25 |
Don`t know | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
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Internet causes addiction among children | 52 | 45 | 46 | 49 | 55 | 60 |
With the parental control the Internet will not cause addiction among children | 43 | 51 | 52 | 47 | 39 | 30 |
Don`t know | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
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Internet makes children aggressive and defiant | 47 | 36 | 44 | 46 | 51 | 53 |
The reason why children are aggressive and defiant is not the Internet | 42 | 55 | 48 | 45 | 37 | 34 |
Don`t know | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 13 |
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Internet is full of information useful for children: educational programs, games et cet. | 69 | 84 | 76 | 74 | 66 | 52 |
Internet does not content information useful for children | 23 | 13 | 20 | 21 | 26 | 31 |
Don`t know | 8 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 17 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!