Study finds 24pc of 5-7 year-olds own smartphones in UK
Representative image of a smartphone
Infant school children are increasingly getting online with greater autonomy, a recent study by Ofcom disclosed. The annual examination of children's digital engagement indicated a surge in the ownership of smartphones among 5 to 7-year-olds, with nearly a quarter of them possessing one.
According to the findings, approximately 24 percent of children aged 5-7 now have their own smartphones, while an overwhelming three-quarters use tablets.
Moreover, there has been a noticeable increase in online activities among this age group compared to the previous year. More children in this bracket are now using the internet for sending messages, making voice or video calls, and watching live-streamed content.
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Social media usage among 5 to 7-year-olds has also seen a marked uptick as well, with platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, and Discord seeing notable growth. Online gaming among this age has experienced a rise, with a particular increase seen in children playing shooter games.
In response to these evolving trends, Ofcom is gearing up to introduce a comprehensive set of proposals to bolster online protection for children. Among the initiatives planned is a consultation on leveraging automated tools, including AI, to proactively detect illegal and harmful content.
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While a substantial portion (42 percent) of parents engage in social media alongside their 5 to 7-year-olds, a significant proportion (32 percent) acknowledged their children's independent usage of these platforms.
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While the majority of parents claim to have discussed online safety with their young ones, there appears to be a disconnect between children's exposure to harmful content online and their disclosure of such experiences to parents.
Moreover, the research underscored emerging behavioural trends among children online, including passive social media use, preference for stimulating short-form content, and a rising interest in soothing sensory videos, particularly among girls.
(With inputs from agencies)