Children owning mobile phones in the UK 2023, by age

According to a survey of parents and children in the UK conducted in 2023, 98 percent of children between 16 and 17 years old owned a smartphone, while 80 percent of respondents aged between three and four did not have a mobile phone.

Electronic devices available to children

Mobile phones are not the only devices children are exposed to daily. At home, indeed, they have access to all kinds of electronic devices, such as TVs, gaming consoles, and radios. For instance, in 2020, 84 percent of children had access to a smart TV, and 85 percent had a game console. Furthermore, 90 percent of children in the UK had access to a PC, laptop, or netbook with an internet connection.

Children’s online activities

British children perform many different activities online, with mobile phones being the most used devices to go online. Among the most recurring online activities were playing games and watching videos, especially on YouTube. Furthermore, children in the UK appear to spend quite some time on social media platforms, like TikTok and Snapchat, where they spend on average 97 and 82 minutes daily, respectively.