Digital Services for Children: Evaluation of the Funding Programme “Ein Netz für Kinder”

The study “Current Inventory and Needs Analysis in the Area of Digital Child-Friendly Offers for the Promotion of Media Competence and Evaluation of the Federal Government’s Funding Programme ‘Ein Netz für Kinder'” (A Network for Children) examines the need for digital offers for children in Germany and derives action recommendations for funding programmes from it. On behalf of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), House of Research GmbH, in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Roland Rosenstock, conducted this comprehensive analysis.

A multi-method research approach was applied, combining qualitative and quantitative modules. The qualitative component included 37 qualitative expert interviews with national and international experts from business, research, and regulation. In addition, age-differentiated group discussions with 59 children aged five to twelve were conducted in cooperation with schools. These interviews aimed to understand the use of digital offers and the expectations of children. Complementing this, a quantitative online survey was conducted with 504 children and their parents to examine their media usage behaviour. Additionally, 413 children’s websites and 633 children’s apps were researched in detail and content-analytically examined to identify quality features, particularly their contribution to the promotion of media competence, and to map the existing digital landscape.

The results show that the digital children’s media market is dynamically developing and requires high-quality, pedagogically valuable offers for children. The study identifies both the obstacles and the drivers for the development of these offers and emphasises the need for adjusted state funding. Based on the findings, concrete action recommendations are formulated to improve the quality and availability of digital offers for children and to sustainably promote media competence.

The detailed results can be found in the final report of the study (see download section below).