Technological leap: three quarters of children aged 10 and over have their own smartphone 84 comments
Image: Bitkom
When children move from primary to secondary school, there is a technological leap: many more students are then equipped with smartphones or other technical devices. This is the result of a survey conducted by the IT industry association Bitkom.
Only 17% of children aged 6 to 9 have a smartphone. This value rises to 76 percent among 10 to 12 year olds, then to 90 percent among 13 to 15 year olds. From the age of 16, 95% own a smartphone. According to Bitkom, the data is based on a representative survey in which more than 900 children and young people aged 6 to 18 in Germany were interviewed.
Technology Leaps Forward in Desktops, Laptops and TVs
Such technological advancements can also be seen in other classes of devices. For example, only 6 percent of 6 to 9 year olds own a laptop or desktop computer, compared to 70 percent of 6 to 18 year olds. Something similar can also be seen with televisions, where the value in the mentioned age groups increases by 13 to 48 percent. Tablets are much more common among children aged 6 to 9, with 42% owning their own. Among 16-18 year olds, the proportion then rises to 68 percent.
The process for consoles is exceptional. A third of 6 to 9 year olds already own one, while just over half of 10 to 12 year olds (53%) and 13 to 15 year olds (52%) each own one. From the age of 16, interest decreases again: according to Bitkom, only 44% of this age group own a console.
Smartwatches are less common, however. Among 6 to 9 year olds, 15 percent own such a device, while among 16 to 18 year olds, the figure is 31 percent.
Controversy surrounding cell phones in schools
When is the right time to own your own smartphone is a controversial topic. Bitkom remains discreet even with a corresponding classification. Bitkom CEO Rohleder simply explains in very general terms that children and young people need to be “supported on their journey into the digital world – both through digital skills courses in schools and through their parents.”
The subject keeps coming up in the media. These often involve cell phone bans in schools. Hesse’s Education Minister Armin Schwarz (CDU) wants to start a debate on a nationwide ban, Spiegel recently reported.
This was preceded by a resolution from the city of Hanau which prohibits the placement of children in municipal daycare centers in the future. This ban applies to GPS trackers, cell phones, smart watches and other applicable devices. Mayor Maximilian Bieri justifies this measure, among other things, by the right of children to explore the environment without constant supervision.
Digital natives are not necessarily competent
However, early media use does not necessarily lead to more knowledge. According to the international comparative study International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2023 (ICILS), 40% of eighth grade students have only rudimentary knowledge. The study caused a stir because the Tagesschau quoted the study’s director as saying that 40 percent of so-called digital natives could “basically just click and swipe.”
However, in international comparison, German students are above the middle of the rankings. In total, 35 countries are involved in the study.
Topics: Smartphone studies Economy Source: Bitkom
Sarah tracks innovations in smartphones, evaluating their performance, design, and key features.
