1. Children’s access to mobile media devices is much greater today than two years ago.
In 2011, only 8% of families with children ages 0-8 owned a
tablet device. In 2013, 40% of families reported owning a tablet.
2. Roughly twice as many children use mobile media today than in 2011. The amount of time using the devices has increased, which is a reflection of wider access to devices. Today, 72% of children ages 0-8 have used a mobile device.
3. “Traditional” screen media use, such as television and video games, has decreased by more than 30 minutes per day. Overall, children ages 0-8 spend 1 hour and 55 minutes on “screen time” a day, compared to 2 hours and 16 minutes in 2011.
4. Children still spend most of their media time watching television, but viewing habits have changed. 55% of children watch TV at least once a day.
Half of children’s daily screen time (1 hour and 55 minutes each day) is spent watching TV on a TV set, but this viewing includes watching pre-recorded, downloaded or streamed, or on-demand programs.
5. Poor and minority children have more access to mobile devices and apps than they did two years ago, but a large access gap still remains. Access to high-speed internet has remained about the same, with 42% of low-income families having access in 2011 and 46% having access in 2013.
But access to smart phones is increasing – 27% of lower-income families reported owning a smart phone in 2011, and in 2013, that figure has jumped to 51%. Tablet ownership, which sat around 2% in 2011, jumped to 20% of lower-income families.
In 2011, just 22% of lower-income children had ever used a mobile device, and today, 65% of lower-income children have.
But gaps still remain: though 20% of lower-income children own a tablet, 63% of higher-income children do.
35% of lower-income parents have downloaded educational apps for their children, compared with 75% of higher-income parents.
6. Television is the most common platform for children’s educational content. Though many children access educational materials on mobile devices, television continues to top the list. 61% of children ages 0-8 “often or sometimes” watch educational TV shows.
When it comes to children ages 5-8, 59% “often or sometimes” watch educational TV, 48% “often or sometimes” use educational computer games, and 44% “often or sometimes” use educational games or apps on mobile devices.
54% of higher-income children “often or sometimes” use educational content on mobile devices, but only 28% of lower-income children do the same.
2. Roughly twice as many children use mobile media today than in 2011. The amount of time using the devices has increased, which is a reflection of wider access to devices. Today, 72% of children ages 0-8 have used a mobile device.
3. “Traditional” screen media use, such as television and video games, has decreased by more than 30 minutes per day. Overall, children ages 0-8 spend 1 hour and 55 minutes on “screen time” a day, compared to 2 hours and 16 minutes in 2011.
4. Children still spend most of their media time watching television, but viewing habits have changed. 55% of children watch TV at least once a day.
Half of children’s daily screen time (1 hour and 55 minutes each day) is spent watching TV on a TV set, but this viewing includes watching pre-recorded, downloaded or streamed, or on-demand programs.
5. Poor and minority children have more access to mobile devices and apps than they did two years ago, but a large access gap still remains. Access to high-speed internet has remained about the same, with 42% of low-income families having access in 2011 and 46% having access in 2013.
But access to smart phones is increasing – 27% of lower-income families reported owning a smart phone in 2011, and in 2013, that figure has jumped to 51%. Tablet ownership, which sat around 2% in 2011, jumped to 20% of lower-income families.
In 2011, just 22% of lower-income children had ever used a mobile device, and today, 65% of lower-income children have.
But gaps still remain: though 20% of lower-income children own a tablet, 63% of higher-income children do.
35% of lower-income parents have downloaded educational apps for their children, compared with 75% of higher-income parents.
6. Television is the most common platform for children’s educational content. Though many children access educational materials on mobile devices, television continues to top the list. 61% of children ages 0-8 “often or sometimes” watch educational TV shows.
When it comes to children ages 5-8, 59% “often or sometimes” watch educational TV, 48% “often or sometimes” use educational computer games, and 44% “often or sometimes” use educational games or apps on mobile devices.
54% of higher-income children “often or sometimes” use educational content on mobile devices, but only 28% of lower-income children do the same.
