2020CHILD ONLINE
SAFETY INDEXReal-time Measurement for
Child Online Safety and Digital Citizenship
CHECK YOUR NATION’S COSI
COSI Level

Below Average Average Above Average

Reached via #DQEveryChild but country data is inconclusive

Real-Time Measure for Country’s Child Online Safety

Download the 2020 COSI Card Report

The Child Online Safety Index (COSI), the world-first real-time measure to help nations better understand their children’s online safety status.

The 2020 COSI is based on data collected from 145,426 children and adolescents in 30 different countries from 2017-2019 as part of the #DQEveryChild initiative.

Linked with DQ assessment tools and its global database, COSI will be automatically updated as the countries progress with their child online safety and digital citizenship initiatives.

Read the Press Release

The COSI Framework

The Child Online Safety Index (COSI) measures the level of online safety for children across the world based on six pillars: Cyber Risks, Disciplined Digital Use, Digital Competency, Guidance & Education, Social Infrastructure, and Connectivity. Each of these pillars are formed by 2-8 focused areas, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of online safety for children. A COSI score was calculated for each country ranging from 0 (the worst online safety for children) to 100 (the best online safety for children).

Learn More

The 6 Pillars of COSI

CYBER RISKS

Assesses whether children are exposed to cyber risks such as cyber-bullying, risky contacts, or disordered use of technology

DISCIPLINED DIGITAL USE

Assesses whether children are spending excessive amounts of time with electronic devices and media

DIGITAL COMPETENCY

Assesses whether children have digital skills, such as digital empathy and digital footprint management, that minimize cyber risks and allow them to be good digital citizens

GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION

Assesses whether children are supported by the guidance of caregivers and school education about online safety

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Assesses whether governments and industries operate in ways that protect children from cyber risks

CONNECTIVITY

Assesses whether children can access the internet with sufficient speeds

Country Level Reports

Country Average      Global Average
Summary Singapore Global
Rank Score Average Score
Overall DQ
Cyber Risks
Disciplined Digital Use
Digital Competency
Guidance & Education
Social Infrastructure
Connectivity

Key Findings:
Download Country Report Card

Cyberbullying
Disordered Use of Technology
Risky Content
Risky Contacts
Cyber Threats
Reputational Risks
Cyberbullying measures whether children have been bullied or have bullied others online

Based on three indicators:

  • The frequency of children and adolescents’ involvement with cyberbullying activities
  • The frequency of children and adolescents’ involvement with cyber-victimization activities
  • The percentage of children and adolescents affected by cyberbullying

Higher scores indicate lower levels of Cyberbullying

Be Part of #DQEveryChild Movement
For Parents
Start with Your FamilyHere
For Educators
Start with Your SchoolHere
For Business and Government
Collaborate for ImpactHere

The Development of COSI

Two years ago, on Safer Internet Day (6th February 2018), the 2018 DQ Impact Report was published in association with the World Economic Forum. That initial report examined online safety and digital citizenship among 38,000 8- to 12-year-olds across 29 countries. Our key finding at that time was that 56% of children were exposed to at least one cyber risk (including risks like cyberbullying, gaming disorder, offline meeting with strangers, and online sexual behaviors). This report created an impetus to expand and deepen our knowledge of the risks children face, as well as what resources act as protective factors.

In the two years following, we have broadened our vision and increased our measurements to examine six major pillars of support for children’s online safety. This 2020 COSI compares the results across 30 countries, and includes data from over 145,426 children, as well as from other external sources such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), Economist Intelligence Unit, and others. Learn more about our key findings and methodology in our full report below.

COSI is dedicated to monitoring trends in Child Online Safety around the world with real-time updates. We invite the academic research and expert communities to work together with us to further improve COSI. We especially welcome suggestions of how COSI can become more relevant to researchers’ own countries. If interested, please contact us at partnership@dqinstitute.org.

Download: 2020 COSI DATA

What Our Partners Say about the 2020 COSI and #DQEveryChild

Check Out Our PartnersBe a Partner
“We’ve been supporting this important work ever since the #DQEveryChild global movement was launched at the Global Education & Skills Forum in 2017. The Child Online Safety Index that has emerged as a result is a vital piece of research and my fervent hope is that policy makers around the world will act upon its findings.”
- Sunny Varkey
Founder of the Varkey Foundation and the Global Teacher Prize
“The Child Online Safety Index shows young people need more resources to stay safe online around the world, which is why IBM is contributing to this important work with our recently released "Let's Talk Safe Tech" initiative which aims to educate young people about best practices in cybersecurity at no cost,” said Guillermo Miranda, Global Head of IBM Corporate Social Responsibility. “The DQ Institute is paving the way for us to understand more about the important benchmarks for cybersafety, and we look forward to continuing to work with them on our shared mission to improve the online safety of youth everywhere.”
-Guillermo Miranda
Global head of IBM Corporate Social Responsibility
“A full half of the global population is under 30. While the young population has grown by almost 140 million over the past 20 years, so too has youth unemployment. I welcome the work of DQ Institute as a way to provide evidence on how the power of ICTs can create the world that we want. A world where everyone, no matter where they live, what their gender or what language they speak, has access to the same basic rights and opportunities. A world where every young person has the chance to prosper and realize his or her dreams.”
-Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union
“Every year, JA Worldwide prepares millions of global youth with the employment and entrepreneurship skills they need to thrive right now and in the future. In this fast-moving and complex age of technology, developing digital skills couldn’t be more important. That’s why we’re proud to partner with DQ Institute to integrate training and assessment of young people’s digital quotient (DQ) into our core programmes.”
-Asheesh Advani
CEO of JA Worldwide
“As a 16-year participant in Safer Internet Day, Microsoft is pleased to support the inaugural release of the DQ Institute’s Child Online Safety Index (COSI). Helping to protect children on the internet is part of our longstanding work to promote a safer online environment for all, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with the DQ Institute and others to encourage greater civility and kindness in all digital interactions.”
-Jacqueline Beauchere
Global Digital Safety Advocate, Microsoft
“In an increasingly digitised world, child online safety is more important than ever and I applaud the work of the DQ Institute in raising awareness of this important aspect of our society.”
-Peter Estlin
Chairman, FutureDotNow.uk
“A long-awaited blueprint to guide governments, private companies, parents and teachers to effectively creating safer online environment for children. The latest masterpiece from Dr. Park and her team.”
-Somchai Lertsutiwong
CEO, Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited, Thailand
“Singtel believes firmly in the education and promotion of responsible digital citizenship. We are honoured to have been involved in the development and implementation of the DQ framework right from the beginning.”
Singtel Vice President of Group Corporate Social Responsibility
-Mr Andrew Buay
-Ms Irina Bokova
Former UNESCO Director-General
“ DQInstitute does outstanding work in promoting digital citizenship for children and parents!”
“DQ World is a quality curriculum packed with fun-filled activities for children to learn digital citizenship skills. Through this program, we impart values and build the character of our children so that they can be equipped for safer use of technology.”
-Mr James Tan
Chief Executive Officer of TOUCH Community Services