FAQs
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Answers to frequently asked questions
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What is the Australian Youth Digital Index?
The Australian Youth Digital Index is an annual research project that provides valuable insights into the digital experiences and needs of young Australians. Each year the Index will offer a comprehensive view of how young people engage with digital technology, highlighting key findings about access, connectivity, skills, safety, and wellbeing.
What is the Index for?
The data collected through surveys and focus groups will help guide the work of non-profits, regulators, educators, policymakers and the social tech sector. By tracking changes and trends over time, the Index will inform and encourage debate, contribute to policy development, and support initiatives aimed at improving digital inclusion and online safety for young Australians.
Who has funded this research?
The Index is funded by the Telstra Foundation (Telstra’s philanthropic arm) who for more than two decades have been focused on youth and technology in Australia.
Who has created and delivered this research?
The Australian Youth Digital Index was co-designed by the Telstra Foundation with Wallis Social Research and based on the United Kingdom’s Nominet Digital Youth Index survey.
When did the quantitative and qualitative research take place?
The fieldwork took place from 1 July to 1 August 2024.
What does 2024 being a pilot year mean for the index?
Telstra Foundation develops all its projects on a test and learn basis and our Index is no exception. 2024 is the pilot year for the Index. We’ll take our pilot learnings and use them to finalise the Index tool for its next run. This means the overall pillar benchmarking, year on year, will start in 2026.
What do we mean by Index Score?
Responses in the quantitative survey under each of the five pillars (Access, Connectivity, Skills, Safety and Wellbeing) contributed to an index score for each individual pillar. The total index score is an average of the index scores for all five pillars.
How can I access the full report?
The full report is available on our downloadable reports page.
How can I access the research data?
To explore and investigate the latest data directly, visit our interactive dashboard.
How do I use the data dashboard to unearth insights?
You’re able to investigate and manipulate the data directly with our interactive dashboard. This allows you to filter down to what you’re most interested in. We’ve also created a guide to help you use the data dashboard.
Can I speak to the young people interviewed for the report?
No, we are committed to maintaining the privacy of the young people who have contributed to the research.
Am I able to use the statistics or quote sections from the report in my own content?
Yes, we want the Index to be useful to the work of others. Review our Citation Guidelines to understand how best to reference the Index data when publishing materials or when using our statistics.
