NetSTAR

TOKYO December 15th, 2008
Research Panel on Internet Use by Children

Between April and December of 2008, the “Research Panel on Internet Use by Children” (Chairman: Akira Sakamoto, Professor, Ochanomizu University) has held six conferences to which academic experts and parents were invited to discuss the panel’s theme for the first term: “operation of and issues with interactive websites.” The panel has summarized its findings for its first term of activity, and has made the report available on its website.

■　Overview of the Report
1) Proposal of a risk evaluation model for interactive websites
The use of "interactive websites” such as SNS, forums, and blogs have various underlying risks, requiring operators to make due considerations in providing their services to minors. The panel has developed an evaluation model for objectively assessing interactive websites to assist the parents in selecting websites for use by their children. The evaluation model will organize and categorize the features offered by interactive websites into “direct contacts,” “links to external websites,” and “promotion of website usage,” and judge the appropriateness of each feature for juvenile use.

2) Preparation of educational materials on the risks of Internet use, for the parents of teenagers
In order to allow the children to make productive use of the Internet, the parents must have a correct understanding of the risks in Internet use. The panel had developed educational materials for parents, for distribution through local governments and NPOs.

■　Publication Format of the Report
The report (in PDF format) is available for download from the panel’s website at http://child-safenet.jp.

■　About the Research Panel
Internet use via mobile phones and personal computers has expanded rapidly over the recent years, and has become an integral part of our everyday lives, even for our children. Nevertheless, the amount of investigation and research on the potentials and risks of Internet use, as well as the provision of relevant information to parents, have been far from sufficient. To address such standing issues pertaining Internet use, the panel was established in April 2008. The panel, collaboratively operated by NetSTAR and Yahoo! JAPAN, currently consists of six members, including experts on child psychology, child development, and media skills, as well as academics and parents.