One in five Luxembourg teenagers spends more than six hours a day on social networks
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The results of a series of surveys conducted in mid-2024 by the Luxembourg National Youth Service (SNJ) demonstrate how quickly and deeply digital technologies have become ingrained in the lives of children, adolescents and their parents. The research looked at both actual screen time and perceptions of digital habits within families - and revealed a worrying gap between adults' perceptions and the actual behaviour of young people.
According to a survey of 541 parents of children aged 3 to 16, 42% of children first touch a digital device before the age of 4. By age 12, 90% of children have a smartphone, and the average age of getting their first device is 10.77 years old. Meanwhile, 96% of 12 to 16 year olds already own a smartphone.
In terms of access to social networks, 61% of parents believe that their children do not yet have accounts. However, the majority of teenagers admit to having started a profile at the age of 12, despite the formal restrictions of the platforms - most require users to be at least 13.
The popularity of apps depends on age. Among primary school students, WhatsApp is the leader (53%), followed by Snapchat (37%) and TikTok (22%). In secondary school, the picture changes: 74% have Snapchat, 67% have WhatsApp and 47% have Instagram. Instagram's position increases with age, especially in the 17-30 age group.
Perhaps the most striking part of the report is the data on the duration of screen time. Young adults (17-30 years old) use smartphones the most: an average of 5 hours 14 minutes per day. Teenagers 12-16 years old - 4 hours 8 minutes, and school teachers show a comparable level of 3 hours 42 minutes. Parents, according to their own estimates, spend 2 hours 47 minutes a day with a smartphone.
Meanwhile, 40 per cent of children aged 3 to 11 already use a smartphone on a daily basis, and 60 per cent use a tablet regularly.
The most striking gap was found between parents' assessments and children's actual use of social networks. One in five parents believe that their child does not surf social networks at all. About a third believe it takes less than an hour a day. However, teenagers themselves tell a different story: 35% spend 1 to 3 hours on social networks, 24% - from 4 to 6 hours, and 18% - more than 6 hours a day.
This is not just a statistical error - it is an alarming signal of a loss of control and lack of communication between generations when it comes to digital hygiene. If parents underestimate the extent of their children's involvement in online life, they are unlikely to be able to offer them effective rules of behaviour or protection from digital risks.
