[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16133806\/2024-08-Gen-Alpha-Z-What-their-phones-say_Hero_Hero.jpg” alt=”apps through the ages how gen alpha and gen z are using their phones” title_text=”2024-08 – Gen Alpha & Z What their phones say_Hero_Hero” force_fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||24px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-80px|||||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Nearly half of Australian kids aged 10-15 are on average spending over two hours a day on TikTok<\/strong>, according to a new report from world-leading online safety company Qustodio.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The report, titled \u201c<\/span>Apps through the Ages<\/span><\/i>\u201d, is based on anonymous app and online tool usage from 19,000 Australian families with children aged between 7-18. The new research reveals how children are interacting with apps over time, and how habits change and develop with age.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n It found that screen time becomes dominated by TikTok from as early as 10 years old<\/strong>, with 39% of 10-12 year olds using the video sharing app for an average of 122 minutes a day, and 48% of 13-15 year olds using the application for an average of 121 minutes a day.<\/span><\/p>\n It also found that nearly 40% of children aged 7-9 have an X \u2013 formerly Twitter \u2013 account, and that Snapchat quickly becomes a dominating application at the critical development age range of 13-15, enabling teenagers to begin sending images and texts. Instagram becomes the dominant application for those aged 16-18<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”Yasmin London, Global online safety expert for Qoria.” portrait_url=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16134022\/Screenshot-2024-08-16-at-15.40.11.png” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a number of key findings in our analysis of the usage data among Australian families that should give parents cause for concern, no matter the age.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cAmid a debate about enforcing age restrictions for social media companies in Australia, it\u2019s important to understand where children are actually spending their time, and the risks those apps pose,” continues London. “While many parents may see many of these apps as harmless distractions, they can expose children to a harmful and dark side of social media.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Children aged 7-9 are predominantly accessing apps through tablets, with 57% of kids owning their own and using them to access apps like Roblox, YouTube and Netflix.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On average, this age group spend over two hours a day on Roblox. The app allows users to play a wide variety of games, create their own games, and chat with other users online. While seemingly a harmless game, it poses its own risks as adults also play and some games have been found to contain highly inappropriate sexual content.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cParents think apps like Roblox are safe because the avatars look like innocent little Lego characters,\u201d says London. \u201cBut while kids are creating and participating in games, so too are older people and behind those avatars are adults using these games and chatrooms to groom or manipulate younger users. Parents need to understand the game, the risks it poses and who kids are playing with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, social media use is already beginning at this age, with two in five kids using the platform X and 29 % already using Reddit.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe theory is that kids as young as 7-9 years of age are gaining access to apps like X and Reddit as parents either don\u2019t know much about them or don\u2019t think to block them because they aren\u2019t as \u2018popular\u2019 \u2013 even though both platforms could expose kids to explicit content like hate speech, porn and disinformation,\u201d says London.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Smartphones begin to emerge as devices in this age group, with 47% of kids owning one.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMany parents may look at this statistic and wonder why so many kids this age have a smartphone or a TikTok account, and say something like \u2018just don\u2019t give your kid access at that age\u2019. But it\u2019s not that simple,\u201d says London. \u201cFor kids, often their main concern is cyber ostracism<\/strong>, which can lead to its own set of issues. People may downplay or ignore this issue, but not being included or allowed in chat groups or online games can result in kids doing it regardless and in a secretive way which isn\u2019t great if they need them to come forward when things go wrong. All kids want to feel included and the online world and friendship groups online are part of that now.<\/span><\/p>\n It’s perhaps no coincidence then that TikTok starts to dominate from this age group onwards, with 39% of kids using the app for an average of 122 minutes per day<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAssuming the average TikTok video is 30 seconds long, that\u2019s around 240 videos a day exposing kids to a range of content that may be inappropriate<\/strong> for their age group, and affecting their ability to focus and concentrate,\u201d says London. \u201cMany parents also don\u2019t know about features in these apps like Family Pairing for instance, which helps parents manage their kid\u2019s TikTok experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n At this age, the use of social media platforms X and Reddit gains momentum; X becomes the fourth most popular app with 42% of kids using the platform regularly \u2013 dramatically increasing the likelihood of exposure to adult content.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”Yasmin London, Global online safety expert for Qoria.” portrait_url=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16134022\/Screenshot-2024-08-16-at-15.40.11.png” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cGlobally the average age a young person will first view pornography occurs before they turn 13<\/strong>. Often this is not because they intentionally seek it out, but because they stumble upon it by accident,\u201d says London. \u201cMature content is easy to find on platforms like Reddit and X. X has even recently updated its community guidelines to allow users to \u2018share and consensually produce adult nudity or sexual behaviour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n However, Roblox remains the most popular app for 10-12-year-olds<\/strong>, with 59% using the platform for an average of 136 minutes per day.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n At this age, Roblox slowly begins to take a backseat (slipping to 47% of kids using the platform) as Spotify (88%) and YouTube (58%) become the two most popular apps<\/strong>. But perhaps the biggest takeaway is how social media platforms start to take hold as kids transition further into high school.<\/span><\/p>\n In this age group, TikTok becomes the third most popular app<\/strong>, with 48% scrolling the app for an average of 121 minutes a day, closely followed by Snapchat, with 47% of kids accessing the app for an average of 93 minutes a day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Snapchat<\/strong> allows people to communicate by sending photos and messages that disappear once opened, and the report suggests it is the primary way that teenagers begin to communicate with one another<\/strong> on smartphones. However, the \u2018disappearing\u2019 nature of messages can embolden children to send more explicit messages and photos, and the apps popularity coincides with increasingly toxic online behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAt this age, teens crave independence and autonomy, but developmentally, they still have poor impulse control. This is why cyberbullying and toxic online behaviours can dramatically increase during these years<\/strong>,\u201d says London.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In this age group, Instagram makes an appearance for the first time, becoming the third most popular app<\/strong> (behind Spotify and YouTube) with 50% of kids accessing the app for 65 minutes a day. However, this cohort continues to spend more time on platforms like Snapchat and TikTok.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On average, Snapchat is used for 87 minutes per day with 46% of 16\u201318-year-olds on the app.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite fewer kids using TikTok (44%), its addictive features \u2013 such as the \u2018For You\u2019 page \u2013 increase the time they are spending on the app, using it for an average of 107 minutes per day, the highest among all apps reviewed as part of the report<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBy this age, teens are often reasonably self-sufficient and confident in their digital interactions, so communication and trust are a parent\u2019s most powerful tools,\u201d says London. \u201cEven at this age, access to these applications poses the same risks that earlier age groups are exposed to<\/strong>, and they can become an incredible distraction during a time when study and the future of these soon-to-be-adults become critical.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e8fff7″ width=”60%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|26px||26px|false|true” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_module=”31666″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||32px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\nRoblox and access to X, tablets, define the 7-9 age cohort<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Smartphone Age begins at 10-12, along with 240 Tik Tok videos a day<\/b><\/h2>\n
Tik Tok and Snapchat: 13-15-year-olds move from consumption to sharing<\/b><\/h2>\n
Instagram quickly becomes the most accessed social networking app among 16\u201318-year-olds<\/b><\/h2>\n