In an increasingly digitalized world, children are growing up surrounded by technologies that shape their daily lives. The report “How's Life for Children in the Digital Age?”, published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) this Thursday, 15, offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of children's lives in the digital environment in OECD countries, based on the most recent data.
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Today’s children are growing up in an era of rapid digitalization, which is significantly impacting their development and daily lives. By the age of 10, 93% of children had an internet connection in 2021, compared to 85% a decade earlier; and on average, approximately 70% of 10-year-olds already owned a smartphone.
The study reveals that digital services provide significant opportunities for learning, entertainment, accessing information, discovering new things, and connecting with peers and community members. However, they also present risks, such as problematic or excessive use of digital media, exposure to inappropriate content, harmful conduct, and other online safety concerns.
According to the report, it is essential to adopt a multi-sectoral and whole-of-society policy approach, involving digital service providers, health professionals, educators, experts, parents and children, to protect, empower and support young people, while addressing offline vulnerabilities, with the ultimate goal of improving their well-being and future outcomes. Furthermore, the report highlights the need to strengthen countries’ capacities to assess the impact of digital media on children’s lives and monitor rapidly evolving challenges.
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98% with smartphones
Among older adolescents, the use of digital devices is even more widespread. In 2022, access to digital devices was almost universal. According to PISA 2022 data, an average of 96% of 15-year-olds in OECD countries had access to a desktop computer, laptop or tablet at home, while 98% owned a smartphone with an internet connection. Furthermore, in almost all countries, at least 50% of 15-year-olds spent 30 or more hours per week on digital devices, with a notable minority – variaranging from 10% in Japan to 43% in Latvia – reporting spending 60 or more hours online.
The report examines both the opportunities and risks associated with children’s increasing engagement with the digital world, providing a cross-national overview of their digital experiences in OECD countries. It explores strategies to improve children’s well-being by ensuring that children are protected and empowered to use digital media in positive ways, while managing potential risks. The report calls for holistic, rights-based and multi-sectoral approaches to support children’s well-being both online and offline. It also emphasizes the need to improve data collection and monitoring capabilities to better understand and mitigate risks.
