Peer-reviewed article

Online Risks and Opportunities For The Children Of Balochistan

Fatahullah Kasi, Gohar Rafique, Erum Hafeez · 31 Dec 2023

Abstract

In today’s digital era, the internet has emerged as a crucial and vital aspect of daily life, not only accessible to adults but also heavily consumed by teenagers and children alike for a multitude of purposes. This study seeks to investigate the diverse usage of the internet and mobile technologies by children from Baluchistan, aged from 9 to 17 years. It incorporates a quantitative approach, whereby the objective is to examine and explore online activities, their potential benefits, risks, and possible protective measures to be employed for young netizens. Around 103 children, ranging in age from 9 to 17, hailing from Baluchistan, the underdeveloped province of Pakistan were randomly sampled based on their access to the Internet and mobile phones. They were investigated for their day-to-day net usage and social media engagement. The findings of the study reveal that a significant majority of the children residing in the province have easy access to online platforms via mobile phones. Social media applications and online games are the major attractions that constitute most of their online activity, despite adults’ concerns about its current and potential impact on their physical, social, and mental well-being. A carefully designed UNESCO questionnaire was utilized as a tool to survey the sampled children, which was divided into 10 broad sections and consisted of around 100 questions. From each section, 16 questions were carefully identified and included in the current study, covering compelling aspects of digital media usage and its implications for young internet users.