Today’s children are increasingly on social media, even at an age when it should be banned. A new study has revealed that nearly a third of young people aged 7 to 9 use the platform X, formerly Twitterdespite the potential risks associated with exposure to inappropriate content.
A generation that is highly connected from a very early age.
A recent study by Qustodio, an online parental control company, highlights a worrying trend: 31% of adolescents (7-9 years) X. The platform, which changed its name after being acquired by Elon Musk, seems to be attracting this young audience thanks to its integration with Google search. Thus, children easily find posts from X in their search results, which feeds their curiosity and leads them to Inappropriate content at times.
Using tablets: a double-edged sword
Another eye-catching figure in the report is that 75% of American children have access to tablets And nearly half of them have one. This makes social networks more accessible to these young users. Although the minimum age required to use these platforms is usually set at 13, many reach them prematurely. This situation raises crucial questions about Parental responsibility The effectiveness of available parental controls.
Risks of inappropriate content
The report indicates that 13% of the content is available on It is considered inappropriate for young children, including hate speech, pornography, and misinformation. According to Yasmin London, global online safety expert for Qoria (the parent company of Qustodio), parents are either not aware of these apps or don’t think to block them because they are not seen as “common”However, these networks can put children at risk. Shocking content not suitable for their ageThis critical situation raises urgent questions about the need to strengthen filtering and monitoring tools.
Roblox and YouTube: Favorites of Young Users
Despite the notable use of X, it is not the main platform used by children. robloxan online video game, is attracting more attention, with 55% of iPads are for kids Spending an average of 137 minutes a day doing it. In the same vein, YouTube attracts 53% Young users, who spend around 103 minutes using it daily. These figures show a strong preference for platforms that offer pure entertainment rather than networks focused on social communication and information.
Differences in usage depending on platforms
To put this data into perspective, it’s interesting to compare the time spent on different platforms. For example, kids spend an average of 36 minutes per day on Disney+, 20 minutes on Facebook, and up to 49 minutes on Minecraft. In comparison, The average time spent on X is only nine minutes per day.These important differences show that, despite their significant presence, social networks remain secondary to games and videos when we consider the total time we spend.
Parenting and Technology: A Hard Balance to Find
The question that arises is: How can we respond to this omnipresent digital presence? The task of parents has become more complex, especially when it comes to monitoring their children’s online activities while respecting their legitimate need for monitoring. Digital EntertainmentYasmine London highlights the importance of increased vigilance and better understanding of the media that young people consume in order to better protect them from potential dangers.
Community Impact and Future Prospects
As these trends become more apparent, Group reflection It is essential to address the growing presence of children on social networks. The study indicates that this issue is already central to societal discussions. While some measures may seek to limit this access, we still need to identify strategies that will be most effective in protecting younger generations without slowing down their technological development.
This phenomenon is certainly iPad kids browse almost freely On platforms initially intended for older people, it calls for a debate on digital regulation and the protection of minors in our ever more interconnected world. Parents, teachers and authorities will have to work closely together to find appropriate solutions.
