Quarter of children under two have their own tablet
ONE in four children under the age of two, and more than a third of three to five-year-olds, have their own tablet, research shows.
Toddlers’ use of apps, websites and the internet has exploded to such an extent that the average pre-school child, including under-twos, spends more than an hour a day online, rising to two hours or more a day for a third of five to six-year-olds, according to a report for the Department of Culture.
Tablets are so widely used by toddlers that baby equipment manufacturers have launched special ipad holders to fit onto high chairs, car seats and strollers with “a water resistant surface that guards [the device] against spills, dribbles and drools”. They are available on Amazon for under £10.
“I am very concerned about screens for babies,” Anne Longfield, the children’s commissioner, told The Daily Telegraph. “It is deeply depressing and has no place in the baby equipment list.”
According to the review by the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, which reports to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, rising internet use among very young children is one of the key trends since its last research six years ago. Children have also shifted from shared to personal devices.
Babies and toddlers tend to use tablets because other devices require reading or typing abilities. Young children in the UK are more likely to own a tablet than those in any other EU country, often hand-me-downs from a sibling or parent.
Prof Sonia Livingstone, the lead author, pointed to research by Sheffield University that found preschool children spent one hour, 19 minutes a day on a tablet during the week and one hour, 23 minutes at the weekend.
More than half of the under-twos knew how to swipe, a third knew how to unlock the tablet and take a picture and 28 per cent used gaming apps, rising to 56 per cent of three to five-year olds.
Prof Livingstone, of the LSE, who has advised the Government, EU and national organisations on internet safety, said it was imperative technology firms did more to make the internet childfriendly “or at least not exploitative”.
“My main concern is that the less responsibility industry takes, the more falls to children, their parents and teachers to figure out for themselves.”