A recent study reveals a decline in smartphone ownership among 9- and 10-year-olds in Norway, alongside recommendations for reduced screen use and a minimum age for social media.
The Norwegian Media Authority's recent survey, 'Caught by the Feed,' indicates a noticeable decrease in the percentage of 9- and 10-year-olds owning smartphones, dropping from 93% to 87%. This marks the first time such a decline has been recorded, suggesting a shift in children's digital habits. Additionally, there is a decreasing trend in children using social media platforms, which has delighted the Minister of Children and Families, who celebrated the findings as a positive development amidst concerns about children's screen time.
The government is actively promoting reduced screen time and has set a recommended age limit of 15 years for social media use, reflecting growing concerns about the impacts of social media on younger users. The Minister expressed satisfaction with the level of parental involvement in ensuring a safer digital environment for children. The statistics underscore increasing parental engagement, aiming to strike a balance between children's digital exposure and their well-being.
Furthermore, the analysis of youth mobile traffic indicates that active users are still engaging significantly with platforms like TikTok, watching between 200 and 400 videos on busy days. While the overall ownership of smartphones among young children is decreasing, the trend on social media highlights the ongoing challenge of moderation and healthy usage patterns among older children and teenagers. As the Minister noted, this is a reason for celebration, and efforts to maintain or improve this trend will be essential moving forward.
