Childnet Digital Leaders contribute to a report on voice assisted technology

Last September, Childnet released research on how young people use voice assisted technology, with the insight of the Childnet Digital Leaders.

Date 2018-11-09 Author UK Safer Internet Centre Section awareness, youth

Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, Cortana… voice assisted technology is becoming an integral part of our everyday life and that of our children. For this reason, Childnet has carried out some research on how regularly children and young people use voice assisted technology and how they use it.

The resulting study was based on a survey of more than 1,000 children and young people aged 8-17 years, which found that:

  • 70 per cent of children and young people have used voice assisted technology in the last year.
  • 92 per cent of those that used it did so primarily to find information, 90 per cent to ask funny questions, 73 per cent to play music and 73 per cent to get advice or help.

Besides this survey, the Childnet Digital Leaders were invited to give their perspectives on the matter via an online consultation. 56 of them participated. They emphasised how easy to use this technology is, but also mentioned some concerns, such as lack of privacy and the reliability of the information provided.

On the results of the study, Childnet CEO Will Gardner said: "young people need guidance and support on how this technology works, as well as how safe, secure and reliable it is. This snapshot gives us an important insight into where further research, support and education for young people needs to be developed so that they feel empowered to use voice assisted technology in a safe way."

As you can see below, the Digital Leaders have also provided five tips to their peers on using voice assisted technology.

 

For more information, read the Childnet Digital Leaders' article on the topic and the full report "Youth perspectives on voice assisted technology", and visit the website of the Childnet Digital Leaders Programme.

Find out more about the work of the UK Safer Internet Centre (SIC), including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services, or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.

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