Children under 2 using the internet in 44% of homes
Valor International - 19/2/25 - [gif]
Autor: Daniela Braun
Assunto: TIC, Crianças, uso de celular, Internet
Children between the ages of zero and eight are increasingly connected to the internet, with many having their own cell phones. Between 2015 and 2024, the share of children under 2 using the internet soared from 9% to 44% in Brazilian homes with a connection. The increase was even more pronounced in older age groups, with the 3 to 5 age group rising from 26% to 71%, and the 6 to 8 age group growing from 41% to 82%. These findings are from a groundbreaking study released on Tuesday (11) by the Regional Center for Studies for the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) during an event for Safer Internet Day.
The analysis, conducted by the Cetic.br department of the Ponto BR Information and Coordination Center (NIC.br), draws from data collected through the ICT Households and ICT Kids Online Brazil surveys, which have been conducted annually since 2015. Last year, the ICT Households survey gathered information from 23,856 households across the country.
Along with the rise in early internet access, the data also highlights a trend of younger children and adolescents owning cell phones earlier, a shift that has been especially noticeable since the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and 2021, the most significant changes occurred in the 3 to 5 age group, where cell phone ownership increased from 12% to 19%, and in the 6 to 8 age group, which saw ownership rise from 22% to 33%.
Over the full period from 2015 to 2024, the share of children owning cell phones increased across all age groups. For children aged 0 to 2, ownership grew from 3% to 5%, from 6% to 20% for children aged 3 to 5, and from 18% to 36% for those aged 6 to 8.
“The survey reveals a trend toward greater connectivity, with multiple connected devices in homes, beyond just computers,” noted Cetic.br researcher Winston Oyadomari. “There has been a notable increase in the presence of connected TVs in households, especially for children aged 0 to 2.”
The first version of the survey, which was conducted through face-to-face interviews with parents or guardians of children, does not yet include data on the amount of time children aged zero to eight spend using the internet or the specific content they access. The survey, released Tuesday (11), represents “a first step towards filling an information gap,” according to Cetic.br researcher Luisa Adib.
The study has not yet determined whether adults are actively supervising children’s use of connected devices. However, Ms. Adib emphasizes that adults should play a key role in mediating children’s internet access. “When the digital space emerged, it wasn’t designed for children. They need assistance,” she warns.
The survey will eventually include data on the amount of time children spend online. According to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP), children under the age of 2 should avoid screen time altogether.
For children between 2 and 5, screen use should be limited to one hour a day, and for children aged 6 to 10, it should be capped at two hours daily.
Ms. Adib explains that with these new findings, Cetic.br aims to support studies, public policies, and initiatives that ensure the safety and well-being of children and adolescents in the digital space.
