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Internet: Children’s use

Children’s use of computers and the Internet at home

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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.

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.

Audiences:: Media and communication devices: Children’s discretionary time, by activity; Children: Leisure activities