Unding the EU Kids Online data
The EU Kids Online dataset offers rich opportunities for secondary data analysis on children’s digital lives across Europe. Based on a large-scale, cross-national survey of children aged 9-17, the data covers key dimensions including online access, practices, skills, risks, well-being, and social contexts such as family, school, and peers.
Researchers can use the data to explore cross-country differences, examine inequalities and vulnerabilities, and analyse how children’s online experiences relate to outcomes such as well-being, digital skills, and safety. The dataset also supports comparative and longitudinal perspectives when used alongside earlier EU Kids Online waves.
The survey is underpinned by a robust and harmonised methodology, enabling reliable cross-national comparisons and interdisciplinary research. Detailed documentation, including questionnaires, variable descriptions, and technical guidance, is available to support data reuse.
Access the dataset here: EU Kids Online dataset (NSD3314)
Citation: Staksrud, E., Ólafsson, K., Smahel, D., Machackova, H., Mascheroni, G., Dedkova, L., Livingstone, S., Hasebrink, U., Zlamal, R., & Abramczuk, K. (2026). EU Kids Online IV: European children’s online opportunities, risks and safety (Version 1) [Data set]. Sikt - Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.18712/NSD-NSD3314-V1
Using the Resreach Toolkit
Rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods are vital to sustain evidence-based policy. This raises crucial questions of reliability, validity, comparability and research ethics.
The EU Kids Online network has worked hard to develop its research toolkit. We are keen that our insights and our methods are used by researchers and research users internationally.
Our research toolkit has several elements. They are provided below.
We explain our approach to comparative research here.
Technical interviews report
This report explains the design, administration and coding for the nine-country interviews and focus groups conducted with children in 2013-14. For the outcome, see the full report.
Original EU Kids Online topic guides and coding instructions
The research ethics application, invitations to participate in the project, consent forms, topic guides, coding guides and examples of translations and coded interviews can be found here.
Barbovschi, M., Green, L. and Vandoninck, S. (2013) Innovative approaches to investigating how young children understand risk in new media: Dealing with methodological and ethical challenges. EU Kids Online Network, London, UK.
Ólafsson, K., Livingstone, S. & Haddon, L. (2013) Children's use of online technologies in Europe: A review of the European evidence base. EU Kids Online Network, London, UK.
Lobe, B., Livingstone, S., & Haddon, L. (2007) Researching children's experiences online issues and problems in methodology. EU Kids Online Network, London, UK.
Link to survey and other materials of potential value to future researchers.
Anyone may use these resources: we just ask you to credit EU Kids Online as the source, and keep us in touch with your results by emailing us at info@eukidsonline.de.
Our preferred credit would read: This [article/chapter/report/presentation/project] draws on the work of the 'EU Kids Online' network funded by the EC (DG Information Society) Safer Internet Programme (project code SIP-KEP-321803).
These resources are made available by EU Kids Online under the Attributive Non-Commercial Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0 UK).