Ofcom: Almost a quarter of kids aged 5-7 have smartphones
www.bbc.com
The regulator calls the data a "wake up call", and says parents and industry need to do more.

Nearly a quarter of UK five-to-seven-year-olds now have their own smartphone, Ofcom research suggests.

Social media use also rose in the age group over last year with nearly two in five using messaging service WhatsApp, despite its minimum age of 13.

The communications regulator warned parental enforcement of rules “appeared to be diminishing.”

It also said the figures should be a “wake up call” for the industry to do more to protect children.

In its annual study of children’s relationship with the media and online worlds, Ofcom said the percentage of children aged between five and seven who used messaging services had risen from 59% to 65%.

The number on social media went up from 30% to 38%, while for livestreams it increased from 39% to 50%. Just over 40% are reported to be gaming online - up from 34% the year before.

Over half of children under 13 used social media, contrary to most of the big platforms’ rules, and many admitted to lying to gain access to new apps and services.

  • Flying Squid
    7•2 months ago

    I agree with you. It’s certainly possible, and quite easy, to give a young child a smartphone or tablet with restricted access to everything but a few games and YouTube kids and, as long as you keep an eye on things to make sure that YouTube Kids hasn’t fucked up and is showing adult material (I don’t think that’s happened in quite a long time), it just becomes “interactive device + TV” which is basically what kids have had for decades as separate things. This just combines them and makes them portable.

    • RBG
      9•2 months ago

      I would never trust YouTube kids ever. If its not an entirely separate platform it is not worth it with YouTube.

      Something like Netflix is way more trustable since they control their content. Well, until they start adding ai generated crap and ads, then its goodbye Netflix too.

      • Flying Squid
        -2•2 months ago

        Removing the YouTube app but not the Netflix app would be the option in that case. It’s still not an argument against them having them at all.

      • @[email protected]English
        9•2 months ago

        I gave my kids flip phones until they were teenagers. They could still communicate if needed, but no social media or things. They were encouraged to go outside and actually do things with friends. They’re all socially well adjusted and successful adults now.

      • @[email protected]English
        3•2 months ago

        Totally on the same page. My 6 year old son and I watch YouTube together sometimes, because there’s lots of great content on there, both for entertainment and education. But he always sees the recommended videos and wants to watch something with a clickbait thumbnail next. Left his own devices, he’d quickly end up in a bad place unintentionally

      • Flying Squid
        -1•2 months ago

        I assume you also won’t let them watch non-educational TV or play non-educational video games until they’re at least 10 as well, yes?