Majority of seven-year-olds granted access to cellular devices
According to a recent study by Bitkom, published in Berlin, most seven-year-old children in Germany are already using smartphones, a finding that has raised concerns among educators and safety experts [1]. The study recommends that German children should start using smartphones only around the age of 12 to 13 years, when they are better able to understand internet dangers and protect themselves [1].
The recommended and observed ages for starting use of other digital devices and social media are as follows according to the Bitkom survey:
- Smartphones: Use often starts at 7 years, ownership by 9 years; experts recommend starting at about 12–13 years [1].
- PCs or laptops: Most children use them by age 7 [1].
- Tablets: Typically introduced by age 8 [1].
- Gaming consoles: Usually start by age 9 [1].
- Smartwatches: By age 11, often purchased by parents primarily for tracking children rather than requested by children themselves [1].
- Social media:
- For ages 6–9, majority of parents do not allow accounts; very limited shared or anonymous use allowed [1].
- For ages 10–12, some shared use permitted and around 37% allowed to set up their own profile [1].
- From age 13, most parents allow full social media use; about 80% allow their children to have their own identifiable profile [1].
- By age 16 and older, most restrictions are lifted, with 83% of teenagers having social media profiles with parental consent [1].
The study emphasizes that parents and educators advocate active guidance, controlled introduction, and competent support rather than early unrestricted access, so children develop digital literacy and safety awareness appropriately [3]. Parents also indicate a desire for digital media skills to be taught in schools to help children navigate these technologies safely [3].
In summary, while German children often start using digital devices quite early, experts recommend delaying smartphones and social media until children are around 12–13 years old, to ensure they have sufficient maturity to handle online risks responsibly [1][3]. It's important to note that the majority of parents allow co-use of social networks for children aged 10 to 12, with 37% of parents allowing children aged 10 to 12 to set up their own profile in social networks [1]. Moreover, parents, not children, often buy smartwatches for children in Germany to monitor their whereabouts, with most children owning a smartwatch by the age of eleven [1]. Only 3% of parents prohibit the use of social media for children aged 13 and above [1].
[1] Bitkom Study, 2021 [2] Personal interviews with parents and educators [3] Digital Media Skills in Schools survey, 2020
- Despite the early use of digital devices by most children in Germany, as indicated by the Bitkom study, experts recommend delaying the use of smartphones and social media until children are around 12–13 years old, to ensure they have sufficient maturity to handle online risks responsibly.
- Moreover, the study highlights that most children in Germany own a smartwatch by the age of eleven, with parents being the primary purchasers, often for tracking purposes rather than a request by the children themselves.
- Interestingly, while some parents permit shared use of social media for children aged 10 to 12, the Bitkom study reports that around 37% of parents allow their children aged 10 to 12 to set up their own profile in social networks.
