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Video and online audiences

Children’s use of computers and the internet at home, 2003 and 2006

2006 | 2003

2006

For children, playing games and school-related or educational purposes are the most common uses for a computer at home. In its 2006 survey, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found around 80 per cent of people aged 14 years or under took part in these activities. Half the children surveyed used a computer at home for internet-based activities, in which school-related or educational activities also dominated.

A growing proportion accessed the internet daily, with usage up from 14 per cent in 2003 to 25 per cent in 2006. However, it was most common for children to access the internet 2–6 days a week.

Computer use 2006

Internet use 2006
Two graphs. Computer and Internet use by children, by age group, 2006. The table following provides the data.
Computer use
  5–8 years 9–11 years 12–14 years All children 14 and under
Activities
Internet-based 29% 54% 69% 50%
Email or messaging 8% 30% 57% 32%
Playing games 88% 81% 70% 80%
School or educational 62% 84% 93% 79%
Other 3% 3% 4% 3%
Frequency of use
Every day 11% 20% 45% 26%
2–6 days a week 47% 56% 46% 50%
One day per week 25% 16% 6% 16%
Less than one day per week 17% 8% 2% 9%
Not known *<1% *<1% **<1% *<1%
Internet use
  5–8 years 9–11 years 12–14 years All children 14 and under
Activities
Using chat rooms *1% 9% 24% 14%
Emailing or messaging 19% 42% 68% 48%
Playing online or internet-based games 62% 54% 43% 51%
School or educational 62% 86% 90% 82%
Browsing internet for leisure 38% 44% 52% 46%
Other *2% 6% 15% 9%
Frequency of use
Every day 10% 18% 39% 25%
2–6 days a week 42% 50% 50% 48%
One day a week 25% 18% 7% 15%
Less than one day per week 24% 14% 5% 12%
Not known **<1% *<1% *<1% <1%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities (cat. no. 4901.0).

Notes:
Proportions are of children who used the computer/internet at home during the 12 months prior to interview, April 2006.
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25–50 per cent and should be used with caution.
** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50 per cent and is considered too unreliable for general use.

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2003

Computer use
  5–8 years 9–11 years 12–14 years All children 14 and under
Activities
Internet-based, including email 25% 52% 69% 48%
Playing games 91% 86% 76% 85%
School or educational 70% 89% 94% 84%
Other 10% 13% 17% 13%
Frequency of use
Every day 9% 16% 33% 19%
2–6 days a week 48% 60% 57% 55%
One day per week 27% 16% 7% 17%
Less than one day per week 16% 8% 3% 9%
Not known <1% <1% <1% <1%
Internet use
  5–8 years 9–11 years 12–14 years All children 14 and under
Activities
Email or chat rooms 23% 40% 67% 48%
Playing games 68% 60% 52% 58%
School or educational 65% 89% 94% 86%
Browsing internet for leisure 24% 39% 50% 41%
Other 4% 7% 10% 8%
Frequency of use
Every day 4% 10% 23% 14%
2–6 days a week 29% 48% 56% 47%
Less than one day per week 38% 19% 7% 18%
Not known <1% <1% <1% <1%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities (cat. no. 4901.0).

Notes:
Proportions are of children who used the computer/internet at home during the 12 months prior to interview, April 2003.

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