Children's internet usage rate announced: Rose to 91.3 percent

TÜİK has published the 'Information Technology Usage Survey in Children' for 2024. The survey was conducted in the 6-15 age group. Children's internet usage has increased by approximately 10 percent.

TÜİK has published the Information Technology Usage Survey in Children. While the internet usage of children in the 6-15 age group was 82.7 percent in 2021, it rose to 91.3 percent in 2024. While the rate of children using social media was 66.1 percent, the social media platform children used the most was YouTube, at 96.3 percent. This was followed by Instagram at 41.5 percent, TikTok at 26.2 percent, Snapchat at 21.4 percent, Pinterest at 13.6 percent, Facebook at 9.5 percent, and X at 4.9 percent, respectively.

INTERNET USAGE RATE REACHED 91.3 PERCENT

Internet usage among children was 82.7 percent in 2021 and reached 91.3 percent in 2024. When internet usage is examined by gender, it was observed that 92.2 percent of boys and 90.3 percent of girls used the internet. These rates were 83.9 percent and 81.5 percent, respectively, in 2021.

97.4 percent of children who use the internet stated that they use the internet regularly. This rate was 98.6 percent in 2021. It was observed that 42.9 percent of children who use the internet regularly spend about two hours or more on the internet on weekdays, and 53.6 percent on weekends. When internet usage of about two hours or more per day is examined by age group, this rate was 30.6 percent for the 6-10 age group and 54.4 percent for the 11-15 age group on weekdays. On weekends, these rates were 43.2 percent and 63.5 percent, respectively.

WHAT DID CHILDREN USE THE INTERNET FOR THE MOST?

When the internet usage purposes of children who use the internet regularly are examined, the activities they engaged in the most were watching videos at 83.9 percent, homework, learning, or attending online classes at 75.0 percent, and playing games or downloading games at 72.7 percent, respectively. The activity children engaged in the least on the internet was sending or receiving e-mails at 13.2 percent.

SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE RATE OF CHILDREN

The rate of children using social media was 66.1 percent in 2024. It was observed that 68.1 percent of boys and 64.0 percent of girls used social media. When social media usage is monitored by age group, this rate was 53.5 percent in the 6-10 age group and 79.0 percent in the 11-15 age group.

97.9 percent of children who use social media used social media regularly. The rate of children who use social media regularly and spend about two hours or more on social media platforms was observed to be 37.1 percent on weekdays and 49.5 percent on weekends. It was observed that the rate of children in the 11-15 age group who spend about two hours or more on social media is about 20 points higher than children in the 6-10 age group.

WHICH APPLICATION DID THEY USE THE MOST?

The social media platform children used the most was YouTube, at 96.3 percent. This was followed by Instagram at 41.5 percent, TikTok at 26.2 percent, Snapchat at 21.4 percent, Pinterest at 13.6 percent, Facebook at 9.5 percent, and X at 4.9 percent, respectively. When the usage of social media platforms by age group is examined, YouTube was the most used application in both age groups. TikTok took second place in the 6-10 age group with 11.7 percent, and Instagram took second place in the 11-15 age group with 63.0 percent.

SMARTPHONE USAGE RATE

The rate of children who stated that they use a mobile phone/smartphone was 76.1 percent in 2024. When the mobile phone/smartphone usage rate is examined by age group, it was observed that this rate was 66.3 percent for children in the 6-10 age group and 86.2 percent for children in the 11-15 age group.

The rate of children who stated that they use a mobile phone/smartphone regularly was 98.2 percent. When the purposes of these children for using a mobile phone/smartphone are examined, it was determined that the most common were browsing the internet at 77.9 percent, video or non-video calling at 77.3 percent, watching movies, series, TV broadcasts, or videos at 75.0 percent, and social media usage at 73.6 percent.

CHILDREN WHO CHECK THEIR PHONES EVERY HALF HOUR

32.6 percent of children who use a mobile phone/smartphone regularly stated that they check their mobile phone/smartphone at least every 30 minutes. This rate was 33.9 percent for boys and 31.2 percent for girls. The rate of children in the 6-10 age group who use a mobile phone/smartphone regularly and stated that they check their mobile phone/smartphone every half hour was 19.6 percent, and the rate for children in the 11-15 age group was 42.8 percent.

While the rate of children who use a mobile phone/smartphone regularly, check their phone at least every 30 minutes, make checking their phone the last thing they do before sleeping and the first thing they do after waking up, and use their phone even while watching TV and eating with others was 3.4 percent, the rate of children who do at least one of these was 58.6 percent. The rate of children who performed at least one of these behaviors was 52.4 percent in 2021.

RATE OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE THEIR OWN TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICE

The rate of children who stated that at least one of the technology products such as a computer (desktop/laptop/tablet), mobile phone/smartphone, smartwatch, and game console is for their own use only was 63.8 percent in 2024. It was observed that this rate was 66.9 percent for boys and 60.5 percent for girls. When children who have an information technology product for their own use only are examined by age group, it was observed that the most significant difference was in children who use a mobile phone/smartphone.

The rate of children who have a mobile phone/smartphone for their own use only was 43.9 percent in 2024, the rate of children who have a computer was 35.7 percent, and the rate of children who have a smartwatch was 14.3 percent. These rates were 39.0 percent, 46.3 percent, and 3.9 percent, respectively, in 2021.

MORE BOYS PLAY DIGITAL GAMES

The rate of children who stated that they play digital games was 74.0 percent in 2024. When the rate of playing digital games is examined by gender and age group, the rate of boys playing digital games was 82.8 percent, while the rate for girls was 64.8 percent. This rate was 80.6 percent for boys and 70.6 percent for girls in the 6-10 age group, and 85.0 percent for boys and 58.7 percent for girls in the 11-15 age group.

RATE OF CHILDREN WHO PLAY GAMES FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS OR MORE PER DAY

90.8 percent of children who play digital games stated that they play digital games regularly. It was observed that 25.6 percent of children who play digital games regularly play digital games for about two hours or more per day on weekdays, and 41.8 percent on weekends. When children who play digital games for about two hours or more per day are examined by age group, this rate was 21.8 percent for the 6-10 age group and 29.8 percent for the 11-15 age group on weekdays. On weekends, these rates were 37.4 percent and 46.6 percent, respectively.

THEY READ FEWER BOOKS TO USE THE INTERNET

When children were asked about the situations caused by the time they spend in front of the screen for activities such as using a computer, mobile phone/smartphone, internet, and social media, playing digital games, and watching TV, 34.4 percent of children stated that they read fewer books because they spend more time in front of the screen. This was followed by studying less at 33.3 percent, spending less time with their family at 25.5 percent, meeting with friends face-to-face and playing fewer games at 18.6 percent, and sleeping less at 17.2 percent.