As students become increasingly active online, it is essential to help them navigate both the benefits and challenges of digital technology. According to the New Zealand Teens’ Digital Profile: A Factsheet (2018), nearly one-third of teens spend four or more hours online daily, while 38% report two to four hours. Although this data is six years old, feedback from New Zealand primary and intermediate students during discussions with the report’s authors suggests that online engagement has likely risen significantly since then.
With more time spent on devices and the blending of online and offline experiences, concerns about young people’s wellbeing and safety in digital spaces have intensified. Our research was conducted with focus groups of students in school years 5 to 8 (ages 9-13) from Waitaha (Canterbury), Aotearoa New Zealand. We sought to explore young people’s perspectives on online safety and wellbeing. Through thematic analysis, we identified key themes related to their online engagement, concerns, strategies for navigating risks, and areas where they seek guidance from parents, teachers, and peers.
This study forms part of an ongoing collaboration between Digital Waitaha and the University of Canterbury to create effective strategies and educational programmes for online safety and wellbeing, empowering youth to manage their digital wellbeing from the moment they are handed a device in an ever-evolving digital landscape.