Big drop in teenagers going outside for play, study finds

The number of teenagers who play outside, read books or get enough sleep has dropped dramatically on previous decades, a survey has found.

Just 48% of 13 to 15-year-olds play outside compared with 77% of 18 to 24-year-olds and 87% of 45 to 54-year-olds when they were that age, according to the study of changing childhoods in a digital world for the charity Barnardo’s.

Barely half (54%) of young teenagers read books, in contrast to the 79% of adults aged over 18 who said they did when they were younger, while just half (50%) of 13 to 15-year-olds say they get enough sleep compared with the 66% of adults who said they did when they were young teens.

The survey found access to the internet helps 75% of young teenagers to do their schoolwork but also revealed 25% of the age group said they had communicated with a stranger on social media.

Almost two-fifths (38%) of 13 to 15-year-olds have never had a boyfriend or girlfriend compared with 33% of adults when that age.

Young teenagers now are more likely than previous generations to confide in their parents, friends and teachers when they have a difficult or embarrassing issue.

Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “This survey shows how quickly the growth of digital is changing our children’s behaviour.

“It’s vital we stay ahead of the digital curve to anticipate the problems it poses.”