Third of 3-4s now have their own media device

Ofcom research finds that 34% of 3-4 year olds own their own media device such as a tablet or games console.

For the last 10 years Ofcom has been running research into children’s media literacy. Their 2016 report shows that technology use among children is continuing to rise.

The Ofcom report found that many young people own an internet connected device.

A third (34%) of 3-4 year olds own their own media device, such as a tablet or games console and 41% of 5-15 year olds own a smartphone, up from 35% in 2015.

Although technology offers many opportunities for young people it’s important that they have the knowledge they need to do so safely and responsibly. A key part of this is having regular conversations with their family about staying safe online.

It is encouraging to see that 84% of children aged 5-15 have had conversations with parents about using technology safely and responsibly.

Parents of older children are most likely than last year to be having these types of conversations with their children, with 92% of parents of 12-15s saying they have spoken to their child about online safety, an increase of six percentage points since 2015.

Over nine in ten 8-11s (94%) and 12-15s (94%) who go online say they would tell someone if they saw something worrying or nasty online, with this most likely to be a family member

Read the full 2016 Ofcom report.

Do you want to start a conversation with your children about using technology safely and positively? Our conversation starters can help you.