In an era where smartphones have become an extension of the hand and the internet a second home, Ukrainian children face challenges that adults often do not even suspect. A new large-scale study conducted by Sense Research has lifted the veil on the real state of affairs in the digital environment of the younger generation. The results, presented on June 30 as part of the Dignity Online initiative, are based on a survey of more than 6,000 respondents across the country and paint a worrying picture.
Early Immersion in Digital Reality
Statistics show that digitalization covers children from infancy. Every fourth child in Ukraine receives their first gadget at the age of three. This is not just a toy, but a full-fledged tool that shapes habits and behavior. Moreover, 80% of children begin to actively use social networks at the age of 6 to 10 years. This happens long before they reach the officially permitted age for registration on most popular platforms.
The Battle for Time and Sleep
Screen addiction has a direct impact on daily routines and academic performance. Half of schoolchildren admit that due to gadgets, they go to bed later than the allotted time at least once a week. Paradoxically, every second schoolchild tries to limit their time online independently, but these attempts often prove unsuccessful.
The consequences are obvious: 56% of students spend less time studying, preferring the virtual world. Overall, every third child spends more time online than in live communication with friends at least once a year.
Cyberbullying and Hidden Threats
The most alarming data concerns safety. The internet has ceased to be a harmless pastime, turning into a field for aggression. In the last year, more than half of teenagers (54%) became victims of cyberbullying. Children face trauma, dangerous content, and manipulation.
Particularly worrying is the method of involving children in illegal activities. In 24% of cases, offenders use trust, acting through the child's friends and acquaintances. This confirms the experts' thesis that threats often come from the immediate environment.
From Assumptions to Facts
Svetlana Bolman, founder of Sense Research, emphasizes the complexity of such studies, but their necessity is indisputable. "It is precisely such data that helps to move from assumptions to facts and see risks that might otherwise remain unnoticed," she notes. The resulting representative picture of the experience of children from 0 to 17 years old can become the foundation for making important decisions in the field of child protection.
Analyst Eva Borysenko adds that the value of the work lies in demonstrating not individual cases, but a broad picture of risks relevant specifically to Ukrainian society. The study clearly points to trends that require the immediate attention of parents and the state.
