Emma is getting ready to start her research online for a presentation for her French class. She has just begun when her phone suddenly vibrates. She scrolls past several Instagram live streams, a reminder for her Italian lesson.... and a nude photo of a classmate, which she figures must have been posted without her permission. Disturbed, she closes the app and tries to get the image out of her mind by watching a YouTube video that a friend had shared with her. Finally she gets back to homework.
The wonders of social media are well known, as we stay connected with friends, expand our networks, access a plethora of cultural knowledge with close to no effort. Needless to say, the dangers are just as overwhelming, especially for teens and children. The problems of cyberviolence, inappropriate content, and privacy incursions remain a major point of concern for teens, children and parents. What are young people’s digital habits? What are the main risks they face? How can we make their online experience safe?
In order to answer these questions, Institut Montaigne collaborated with AXA Prévention and Dentsu Aegis Network, to carry out an opinion poll with 5,000 French respondents. It is partially based on a study carried out in the United States by the Pew Research Center. On the basis of this data, we developed ten proposals for teaching and supporting young people in their digital habits, and encouraging responsible behavior online.