A study by the Observatory of Parenthood and Digital Education, carried out by Ipsos in February 2024, shows that more than half of children aged 7 to 17 own a smartphone, with an average age of acquisition of 11 years for the latter, and 9 years for a tablet. As for game consoles, 56% of 7-10 year olds own one.
Nearly 70% of children aged 7 to 17 connect to the Internet daily. This early use of digital tools leads young people to spend an average of four hours a day on the Internet, particularly during holidays and weekends, with a strong appetite for social networks such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. This time spent in front of screens continues to increase as children get older.
A concern for parents
The time that children spend in front of screens remains a source of concern for French parents, although some signs of improvement are emerging. Indeed, the study reveals that 53% of parents feel overwhelmed by their children’s digital use, particularly due to the increased use of smartphones. However, 71% of them believe that the situation is improving compared to 2021.
The effects of this prolonged exposure to screens are not without consequences: sleep disorders, exposure to inappropriate content, cyberharassment or even approaches by strangers online are all risks mentioned. Faced with this, many parents are establishing rules to regulate digital use. Thus, 56% prohibit the use of the telephone during meals, and 43% use parental controls. According to the study, Google Family Link is the tool best known and used by parents to control the content viewed by their children.
