Official Announcement of “Internet Literacy Indicator of Youths”

1.Background and purpose

  Last fiscal year, the MIC developed a test, etc. to visualize Internet literacy of youths with a view to effectively implementing measures for improving Internet literacy in the future, considering importance of the measures. During this fiscal year, the MIC conducted a test to measure Internet literacy of youths developed during the last fiscal year, together with a questionnaire survey, targeting about 2,500 freshmen in high schools nationwide. The results were collected and analyzed to reveal the current status of Internet literacy of youths, and they are officially announced herein as “Internet Literacy Assessment indicator for Students*.”
 

2.Points of survey results

  - The overall average score of all youths was about 67 out of 100 points.
  - Cooperating schools were divided into three categories based on population of their location, and Internet literacy of youths who belonged to each category was compared and analyzed. Internet literacy of youths who belonged to the urban area (population of more than 500,000) was relatively high.
  - Internet literacy of youths was compared and analyzed by gender, and there was no significant difference in ability.
  - Comparison and analysis were made between youths having learning experience of dangers of the Internet and youths having no such an experience, and Internet literacy of youths having learning experience was relatively high.
  - Internet literacy was compared and analyzed according to whether or not dangers of the Internet were discussed at home, and Internet literacy of youths having discussions at home was relatively high to some extent.

  “*Internet Literacy Assessment indicator for Students”: In particular, as Internet literacy, abilities for responding to dangers and risks on the Internet and abilities necessary for appropriately judging information in consideration of moral are divided into three large classifications and seven middle classifications, and questions for the test corresponding to each classified ability were prepared. Through this scoring process, the abilities could be visualized. The subtitle of indicator is called as “Internet Literacy Assessment indicator for Students” and awareness on this indicator will be raised in Japan and other countries in places for such as OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).