1 National report for Estonia By Veronika Kalmus, Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt, Andra Siibak and Kadri Ugur Contribution to the European report: Uwe Hasebrink, Sonia Livingstone and Haddon, L. (eds) Comparing Children's Online Opportunities and Risks across Europe: Cross-national Comparisons for EU Kids Online, a report for the EC Safer Internet Plus Programme, 2008. 1 The Internet 1.1 Children’s Internet access In general, Internet availability is good in Estonia. There are more problems in rural areas, but recent initiatives have emphasised an increased focus on rural availability. ISPs offer guidance in technical safety of computer use (e.g., virus protection, spyware and executable files). However, content protection is generally not provided. Microsoft, in cooperation with Tallinna Perekeskus (Tallinn Family Centre), lastekas.ee (a children’s website) and Lastekaitse Liit (Estonian Union for Child Welfare) initiated a project called Veebivend (Web Brother). In this project, research was carried out to identify risks related to children. The project also helped to distribute information about safety on the Internet. This was targeted to the parents of 6 to 10 year olds. In 2007, the project focused on 8 to 16 year old schoolchildren. Its recommendations were related to good behaviour online rather than to filters or software. 1.2 Findings on children’s access to the Internet and online technologies According to the study “Youth and the Media” , 80% of 12 to 18 year old children in Estonia have access to the Internet at home, 76% have broadband connection at home. In the wealthiest households, 6 to 14 year old children have the maximum access to the Internet (“Children and the Internet”, 2006). The wealthier 12 to 18 year olds pupils are (i.e., the more ICT-equipment they have), the more likely they will have Internet access at home (Youth and the Media, 2005). 1.3 Findings on children’s use of the Internet and online technologies Studies also show that 91% of 6 to 14 year old Estonian children use the Internet, 70% of which use it almost daily (DR, 2006: 291). Furthermore, 71% of 12 to 18 year olds use the Internet almost daily at home, and 50% use the Internet at least once a week at school. Among the same age group, 30% report that they use the Internet for more than 3 hours a day, 17% use it usually for 3 hours a day, and 24% use the Internet for 1 to 2 hours a day (Youth and the Media, 2005). Internet usage grows steadily as the age of the child increases. It is used daily by 47% of 6 to 8 year olds, 71% of 9 to 10 year olds, 75% of 11 to 12 year olds, and 88% of 13 to 14 year olds (Children and the Internet 2006). Gender differences in home access to the Internet found from 2000 to 2003 decreased to a statistically insignificant 9% (78% of 15 to 19 year old boys vs. 69% of girls) by 2005 (Children of Screen and Monitor, 2001/02; Me. The World. The Media, 2002, 2005). No significant gender differences in the frequency of Internet use or using the Internet for economic and civic participation among 15 to 19 year olds were found from 2002 to 2005 (Me. The World. The Media, 2002, 2005). Moreover, no significant gender differences in 6 to 14 year old children’s Internet usage were found in 2006 (Children and the Internet, 2006).