Children’s use

of mobile phones
A special report 2014
CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators
worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250
companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset
and device makers, software companies, equipment providers
and Internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent
industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading
events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress
Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website
at www.gsma.com
Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA
NTT DOCOMO is Japan’s premier provider of leading-edge
mobile voice, data and multimedia services. With more than 68
million customers in Japan, the company is one of the world’s
largest mobile communications operators.
Since 2004, NTT DOCOMO’s Mobile Society Research Institute
(MSRI) within NTT DOCOMO has been studying the social
impact of mobile phone use. The research institute, which
operates independently from NTT DOCOMO, conducts research
studies into both present and future influences of mobile
communications. Its findings are widely disclosed to the public
through reports, publications and symposia.
For more information, please visit
www.nttdocomo.co.jp/corporate/disclosure/moba-ken/

Published in 2015 by the GSMA and the Mobile Society Research

Institute within NTT DOCOMO, Inc. Japan.

With special thanks to Net Children Go Mobile and

Dr. Giovanna Mascheroni, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore,
Italy for providing the European data
for this comparative report.
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Contents
1. Introduction 04

2. Summary of key findings 05

3. Children and mobile phones: An overview 07

4. Children’s use of mobile phones and the internet 12

5. Apps, location and social networking services 15

6. Mobile phones and children’s wellbeing 23

7. Digital literacy, skills and parental controls 28

 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

INTRODUCTION
Children’s use of mobile phones: A special
report 2014 provides a detailed comparison of
children’s mobile phone and internet usage in
seven European countries - Belgium, Denmark,
Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania and the United
Kingdom - with that of children in Japan. This
special report builds upon work previously
conducted in other parts of the world and
focuses on children in European countries for
the first time.

The report is part of a collaboration between the GSMA, DOCOMO and Net Children Go Mobile. The European data
was collected as part of the Net Children Go Mobile project, which is co-funded by the European Commission’s
Safer Internet Programme (now Better Internet for Kids)1. The surveys in Denmark, Italy, Romania and the UK were
directly funded by the Safer Internet Programme and the surveys in Belgium, Ireland and Portugal were self-funded.

1.1 Methodology
The European surveys were conducted face-to-face in UK, Denmark, Italy, Romania and Ireland from May to
November 2013, and in Portugal and Belgium from February to March 2014. The surveys were conducted by Ipsos
and involved a random stratified sample of around 500 children per country, consisting of 9 to 16-year-olds who
are internet users. Further information on the European surveys and the final Net Children Go Mobile report2 can
be found at www.netchildrengomobile.eu/reports

The Japanese surveys were conducted online in January 2014. A thousand children aged 9 to 16 years old were
surveyed with the sampling of age and gender consistent with demographics of Japan’s overall population.
A research firm, MyVoice Communications, Inc., was used to maintain quality and ensure a representative sample
of Japanese children.

1. European Commission Grant Agreement: SI-2012-KEP-411201.

2. Mascheroni, G. and Ólafsson, K. (2014). Net Children Go Mobile: risks and opportunities. Second edition. Milano: Educatt.

4
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS

2.1 Key findings by chapter

Chapter 3: Children and mobile phones – an overview

• On average, 69 per cent of children surveyed across • On average, two in three children who use a mobile
the eight countries use a mobile phone. phone have a smartphone.

• Among 15 and 16-year-olds surveyed, 10 and 12
years were the most common ages to first receive
a mobile phone. Japanese children receive them at
older ages (the majority at 15 years) compared to
their European counterparts.
• 34 per cent of children surveyed use a tablet.
Denmark has the highest proportion at 60 per cent
and Japan one of the lowest at 18 per cent.

Chapter 4: Children’s use of mobile phones and the internet

• 71 per cent of all children surveyed who use mobile
phones access the internet on their device. This
increases to 95 per cent when looking exclusively
at children who use smartphones.
• At age 12, more than 50 per cent of European
children surveyed access the mobile internet,
compared to only 26 per cent of those in Japan.
• The most popular uses of the mobile internet are
watching videos (88 per cent) and studying (77 per
cent). However, only 24 per cent of children in Japan
use the internet for studying, a significantly lower
proportion than in the European countries surveyed.

5
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014
Chapter 5: Apps, location and social networking services
• By age 12, almost 80 per cent of children who access
the internet from smartphones download or use
mobile apps.
• Only 14 per cent of children who use apps have
downloaded and installed a ‘paid for’ app.
• Less than 40 per cent of children who are mobile
phone users use GPS location services, and their
usage varies widely across countries.
Chapter 6: Mobile phones and children’s wellbeing
• 10 per cent of children who use mobile phones have
gone without eating or sleeping due to time spent
on the internet. Japanese children do this at a much
higher rate than the European children surveyed, at
29 per cent.
• 38 per cent of children who use smartphones felt
anxious when they couldn’t use the internet, with
children tending to feel this more as they grew older.
• 22 per cent of children who use mobile phones
felt they spend less time with family, friends or
Chapter 7: Digital literacy, skills and parental controls
• 80 per cent of children aged 13 or older who use
mobile phones can block messages that they don’t
want to receive, and nearly 70 per cent can erase
their internet history. Japanese children had the
lowest results in both categories among countries
surveyed.
• In both Japan and Europe, children seek advice on
their mobile phone or internet use from their parents
first and then their friends. This changes with age,
with older children (aged 15 and 16) turning to their
friends before family.
6
• 81 per cent of children who access the mobile
internet use social networking services, with
Facebook the most popular service in European
countries and LINE most popular in Japan.
• On average 46 per cent of children on social
networking services have ‘private’ profiles, with girls
tending to have higher privacy settings than boys.
In 5 of the 8 countries surveyed, the majority of
children have a private profile, including in Japan.
schoolwork due to the internet, and 20 per cent had
tried, unsuccessfully, to reduce the time they spend
on the internet.
• 40 per cent of children who use mobile phones
exchange messages with their parents almost every
day and 54 per cent speak to their parents on the
phone nearly daily. Japanese children message and
call their parents at significantly lower rates than
European children, at 11 per cent and 7 per cent
respectively.
• 63 per cent of European parents ask their teenage
children about their internet use compared to 32 per
cent of Japanese parents. Similarly 40 per cent of
European parents have sat with their children when
they use the internet, compared to 21 per cent of
Japanese parents.
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

CHILDREN AND MOBILE PHONES

– AN OVERVIEW
How many children own mobile phones
and what do they use them for?
This chapter discusses the differences
across the eight countries surveyed and
how they relate to the percentage of
children who own a mobile phone, age
of first acquisition, type of mobile phone
owned and tablet use.

Key findings of children

surveyed
across

69%
On average
the eight
countries
use a mobile
phone.

On average

2 in 3
children who use a
mobile phone have
a smartphone.

34%
Denmark has the

60%
highest proportion at

of children
surveyed use
a tablet. and Japan one of the lowest at 18%.
7
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

3.1 Mobile phone use and age of first ownership

Almost 69 per cent of children surveyed use a mobile phone, with Denmark having the highest proportion at 93
per cent, followed by Portugal at nearly 76 per cent and the United Kingdom at 74 per cent. Japan has the lowest
penetration rate at 58 per cent (Figure 3-1-1).

Figure 3-1-1 Percentage of children using a mobile phone by country

TOTAL
(n=4565) 69.0%
JAPAN
(n=1000) 58.4%
BELGIUM
(n=511) 60.3%
DENMARK
(n=501) 93.0%
IRELAND
(n=503) 66.2%
ITALY
(n=511) 68.1%
PORTUGAL
(n=501) 75.6%
ROMANIA
(n=522) 66.3%
UK
(n=516) 74.4%

Across all 8 countries surveyed, 10 years is the most common age for a child to first own a mobile phone, followed
by 9 and 8 years. (Figure 3-1-2).

Figure 3-1-2 Age of first mobile phone ownership by country (% of children who use mobiles)

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
under 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
AGE

Average Japan Belgium Denmark Ireland Italy Portugal Romania UK

8

The results shown in Figure 3-1-2 are dependent on the
age distribution of the sample and tend to be biased
towards a younger age of first ownership. For example,
a 12-year-old couldn’t say their age of first ownership
was older than 12 years. Therefore the younger the
respondents, the lower the age of first ownership will be.
In an attempt to mitigate this bias, children aged 15 or
16 were asked when they first owned a mobile phone.
The results are shown in Figure 3-1-3 and indicate that
Figure 3-1-3 Age of first mobile phone ownership by country, as reported by 15 to 16-year-olds
(% of children who use mobile phones)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
under 6 7 8 9 10
Average Japan Belgium Denmark
3.2 Types of mobile phones used
For the purposes of this report, mobile devices are
categorized into two types:
•  Smartphones: Highly sophisticated phones with
access to internet and Wi-Fi, where users can easily
download and use apps. Examples of smartphones
include iPhone, Blackberry and phones that use the
Android operating system.
• Other phones: These range from simple ‘basic’
phones which can be used to make calls and
send messages but have limited other functions,
to ‘feature phones’ which have functions such as
cameras and possibly internet access, but with
limited ability to easily download apps.
CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014
on average, 10 and 12 years are the most common ages
for children to first receive a mobile phone, particularly
in Belgium which shows a sharp spike with 37 per
cent first owning a phone at age 12. Of the countries
surveyed, Japan has the oldest age of first ownership
with the majority owning their first phone at age 15.
This is likely to be linked to the entry ages for junior
high school at 12 years and high school at 15 years. In
European countries, however, the most common age for
children to receive their first mobile phone is 9 to 12 years.
11 12 13 14 15 16
AGE
Ireland Italy Portugal Romania UK
As Figure 3-2-1 shows, two in three children surveyed
who use a mobile phone have a smartphone. Denmark
has the highest smartphone usage rate at 89 per cent
and Romania has the lowest rate at 32 per cent.
In Japan, the market differs from the European
countries surveyed as there are no ‘basic’ phones
and most children (53 per cent) use feature phones.
For example, the Gala-Kei phone - a highly popular
feature phone in Japan – is equipped with internet
capability, the ability to download applications, a
camera and a high speed connection but is less
expensive than a smartphone device and has lower
monthly charges.
9
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Figure 3-2-1 Types of mobile phones used by country (% of children who use mobile phones)

TOTAL
(n=2940) 62.8 37.2
JAPAN
(n=375) 46.7 53.0 0.3
BELGIUM
(n=308) 65.1 34.9
DENMARK
(n=466) 88.9 11.1
IRELAND
(n=333) 74.8 25.2
ITALY
(n=348) 65.6 34.4
PORTUGAL
(n=379) 44.7 55.3
ROMANIA
(n=346) 32.0 68.0
UK
(n=384) 77.6 22.4

Smartphone Non-smartphone Don’t know

Figure 3-2-2 shows children’s smartphone usage rate by age. In all eight countries, the smartphone usage rate
tends to increase with age. Denmark shows a particularly high smartphone usage rate of over 80 per cent at age
9. This may be explained by the Danish government’s Bring Your Own Device (BOYD) educational policy where
many educational services are delivered through the internet with Learning Management Systems (LMS), which
provide pupils with access to online and mobile tools and materials for studying.3

No relationship between income and smartphone ownership was found.

Figure 3-2-2 Percentage of child mobile phone users who have a smartphone by age and country
(% of children who use mobile phones)
100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
AGE
Average Japan Belgium Denmark Ireland Italy Portugal Romania UK

3. http://europe.wiki.nmc.org/BYOD

10
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

3.3 Tablet use

Figure 3-3-1 shows that 34 per cent of children surveyed use a tablet. Denmark has the highest proportion of
children using a tablet at 60 per cent, followed by the United Kingdom and Ireland at 46 per cent, and Belgium at
45 per cent. Romania has the lowest proportion of tablet usage at 11 per cent, followed by Japan at 18 per cent.

Figure 3-3-1 Tablet usage by country (% of all children surveyed)

80%

60%
60.1

45.4 45.6 45.8

40%

33.5
29.9

20%
18.4 19.0

10.9

0%

N K ND L E
PA IUM AR LA ) LY GA NIA UK 16) AG
JA 466) LG NM ) ITA 511) TU MA ) ER )
(n= BE 511) DE n=501 IRE =503 OR 01) RO n=522
5
(n= AV =4288
(n= ( ( n (n= P (n=5 ( (n

11
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE

PHONES AND THE INTERNET
This chapter examines how children use
the internet and the content they access
via their mobile phones.

Key findings
The most popular uses of the

71%
This increases to

95%
mobile internet are

watching and
of all children when looking videos studying
surveyed exclusively (88%) (77%).
who use mobile at children
phones access who use
the internet smartphones.
on their
device.

However, only
At age 12,

24%
more than 50%
of European
children
surveyed
access the of children in Japan use
mobile internet, the internet for studying,
compared to a significantly lower
only 26% of proportion than in the
those in Japan. European countries surveyed.
12
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

4.1 Mobile internet use

Figure 4-1-1 shows that 71 per cent of children who
use a mobile phone in the eight countries surveyed
use the internet from their mobile phones. Denmark
has the highest percentage of mobile internet usage
among children at 88 per cent, followed by Ireland
at 84 per cent, the United Kingdom at 78 per cent
and Belgium at 77 per cent. Japan has the lowest
proportion at 45 per cent. However, in Japan, almost
all ‘feature phones’ have internet capability through
the mobile operators’ internet connection services
(rather than through conventional internet
browsers). Services such as NTT DOCOMO’s i-mode4
typically provide a curated internet experience on
feature phones but children may not recognize this
as ‘the internet’, possibly accounting for a lower
response rate to the survey.
Mobile internet usage is particularly high among
children who are smartphone users, at 95 per cent.
In every country surveyed, except Japan, over 90
per cent of children with smartphones use them to
access the internet.

Figure 4-1-1 Mobile internet penetration among child smartphone and non-smartphone users
by country (% of children who use mobile phones)

(n=2939) 71.5

MOBILE PHONE
TOTAL (n=1846) 95.3
(n=1093) 31.1
(n=375) 45.1

TOTAL
JAPAN (n=175) 88.0
(n=199) 7.5
(n=307) 77.1

SMARTPHONES
BELGIUM (n=200) 95.9
(n=107) 42.1
(n=467) 88.3
DENMARK (n=415) 95.2
(n=52) 33.2
NON-SMARTPHONES

(n=333) 83.9
IRELAND (n=249) 96.0
(n=84) 47.9
(n=348) 75.6
ITALY (n=228) 99.0
(n=120) 31.0

(n=380) 65.1
PORTUGAL (n=170) 99.3
(n=210) 37.4
(n=346) 55.7
ROMANIA (n=111) 91.3
(n=235) 38.9
(n=384) 78.1
UK (n=298) 95.5
(n=86) 18.0

4. https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/service/imode/

13
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Figure 4-1-2 shows the internet usage rate on mobile the European countries surveyed, the majority
phones by country and age. of children aged 12 access the mobile internet,
compared to only 26 per cent of children aged 12 in
In all eight countries, internet usage from a mobile Japan. No significant difference was found between
phone tends to increase with children’s age. In all boys and girls.

Figure 4-1-2 Mobile internet penetration rate by country and age

(% of children who use mobile phones)

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
AGE

Average Japan Belgium Denmark Ireland Italy Portugal Romania UK

4.2 Internet content accessed from mobile phones

Figure 4-2-15 shows the most popular types of internet European country surveyed except the United Kingdom,
content that children access from their mobile phones. watching videos is the main activity, followed by studying.
In comparison, Japanese children use the internet
The main reasons for children in the eight countries mainly for playing games and less than a quarter use it for
surveyed to access the mobile internet are “watching/ studying. This may be because online homework or use of
recording videos” (88 per cent of children) and “using LMS (Learning Management Systems) on internet capable
the internet for study” (77 per cent of children). In every mobile devices is not common in Japanese schools.

Figure 4-2-1 Types of internet content children access via a mobile phone by country
(% of children who access the internet via mobile)
95.2

93.6
92.8

91.0
91.6
91.3

90.6

87.5
87.3
86.9
86.1

81.7

81.0

77.0
76.4

75.2
74.0

72.8
72.4

71.3

66.2
64.8
62.3

59.5
59.1

57.8

56.0
55.4

51.0
47.9

47.9

47.9
45.3
42.0

40.4

36.0

34.1
33.7

33.4
31.7

30.9

29.2
24.3

18.1
16.0

JAPAN BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA UK AVERAGE

Playing games Playing games

Using the internet for study Watching / recording videos Using IP phone for Skype, LINE, etc.
online by myself online with others

5. Calculation based on children who access the Internet from their mobile phones. Japanese children were asked about their everyday usage experience and
European children were asked about the usage frequency over the last several months.
14
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

APPS, LOCATION AND SOCIAL

NETWORKING SERVICES
This chapter looks at the apps, location
and social networking services that children
use on their mobile phones.

Key findings
By age 12
Almost Only Less than

80% 14%
of children
who use
40%
of children
who are mobile
of children who apps have phone users use
access the internet downloaded GPS location
from smartphones and installed services, and
download or use a ‘paid for’ their usage
mobile apps app. varies widely
across countries.

81% of children who access the mobile internet use social

networking services, with Facebook the most popular service
in European countries and LINE most popular in Japan.

On average 46% of children

on social networking services In 5 of the 8 countries
have ‘private’ profiles, with surveyed, the majority of
children have a private
girls tending to have higher profile, including in Japan.
privacy settings than boys.
15
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

5.1 Mobile apps: Downloads and use

Figure 5-1-16 shows that 79 per cent of children who access the internet on their smartphones download or use
mobile apps.

Figure 5-1-1 Child smartphone users who download / use apps by country
(% of children who access the internet via smartphone)

TOTAL
(n=1752) 79.1%
JAPAN
(n=154) 84.4%
BELGIUM
(n=191) 73.2%
DENMARK
(n=394) 77.4%
IRELAND
(n=238) 77.1%
ITALY
(n=225) 87.1%
PORTUGAL
(n=169) 80.9%
ROMANIA
(n=99) 74.4%
UK
(n=282) 78.5%

Even at a young age, children use mobile apps at a high rate and by age 12 around 80 per cent of children
download or use mobile apps on their smartphones. (Figure 5-1-27).

Figure 5-1-2 Mobile app usage by age (% of children who access the internet via smartphone)

100%

80%

60%

40%

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
AGE

6. Japanese children were asked about their everyday usage experience and European children were asked about their usage frequency over the last several months.
7. Japanese children were asked about their everyday usage experience and European children were asked about the usage frequency over the last several months.

16
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Figure 5-1-38 shows the percentage of children in each country who download or use paid apps (i.e. apps
which cost money to download or use). Across the eight countries, 14 per cent of children who use apps have
downloaded and installed paid apps. The United Kingdom has the highest proportion at 34 per cent, followed by
Ireland at 15 per cent, Japan at 15 per cent and Denmark at 13 per cent.

Figure 5-1-3 Children who download or use paid apps by country

(% of children who download or use apps)

40%

34.3

20%

15.0 15.4 14.4

13.2
9.4 10.4
7.2
4.9
0%

N RK ND L
PA IUM LY GA NIA UK 58) TA
L
JA 120) LG MA LA ) ITA 163) TU 6) MA )
(n= BE 120) EN 90) IRE n=146 O R 3 RO (n=89 (n=1 TO 1121)
(n= D
(n=1 ( (n= P (n=1 (n=

5.2 Location services

Across the 8 countries surveyed, the usage of GPS location services varies widely. Romania has the highest usage
rate at 39 per cent and Ireland the lowest at 12 per cent (Figure 5-2-1).

Figure 5-2-1 Use of GPS location services by country (% of children who use a mobile phone)

37.2% 38.8%

26.8%
23.4%
21.1%
18.2% 19.1%
15.9%
11.9%

TOTAL JAPAN BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA UK

(n=2885) (n=375) (n=307) (n=459) (n=325) (n=343) (n=375) (n=332) (n=369)

8. Calculation based on children aged 13 or older who downloaded or used apps on their mobile phones. Japanese children were asked about their everyday
usage experience and European children were asked about their usage frequency in the past.

17
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

5.3 Social networking services

Figure 5-3-19 shows the percentage of children using social networking services by mobile handset type and
country. Almost 81 per cent of children who access the mobile internet use social networking services on their
mobile phones, and this increases to 89 per cent when only considering smartphone users.

Figure 5-3-1  Use of social networking services on mobile phones by handset type and country
(% of child mobile internet users)

TOTAL JAPAN BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND

80.8% 45.1% 86.9% 88.3% 77.4%
(n=1846) (n=375) (n=308) (n=466) (n=333)
78.3% 81.0%
(n=175) (n=249)
88.7% 90.4% 89.7%
(n=1093) (n=200) (n=415)

ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA UK

89.6% 88.5% 93.0% 77.8%

(n=348) (n=379) (n=346) (n=384)
86.1%
(n=298)
97.8% 93.9% 96.7% Mobile phone
(n=228) (n=170) (n=111)

Smartphones

Table 5-3-2 shows the most popular social networking service platforms used by children in the eight countries
surveyed. In all seven European countries Facebook was the most popular, and in Japan LINE is the most used.

Table 5-3-2 Social networking sites used by children by country

(% of children who access social networking)

UNITED
JAPAN BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA AVERAGE
KINGDOM

(N=) 189 299 368 271 317 375 397 307 2523

TWITTER 10.6 3.0 2.1 8.4 2.6 3.0 – 13.0 4.7

FACEBOOK 5.8 88.2 87.0 83.0 95.4 95.4 99.3 84.8 84.6

OTHER 4.7 8.8 10.9 8.5 2.1 1.6 0.7 2.2 4.8

LINE 78.8 – – – – – – – 5.9

9. Calculation based on mobile phone (smartphone) users. Japanese children were asked about their past experience using SNS. European children were asked
about the usage frequency in the past of “Social networking profile”, “Chatrooms” or “Instant messaging”. Children who used any of them are counted as
“users of SNS”.

18
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

5.4 Children’s social networks

Figure 5-4-1 shows the number of contacts that children have on social networking services broken down by
age. Of all children surveyed in the eight countries, 46 per cent of 9-year-olds had between 11 and 50 contacts.
This percentage generally decreases with age, reflecting that children in many countries tend to have more
connections as they grow older and develop social relationships in the real world.

Figure 5-4-1 Number of social network contacts that children have by age
(% of children who use social networking services)
8 NATION TOTAL
50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
(n=79) (n=142) (n=217) (n=306) (n=371) (n=411) (n=454) (n=468)
AGE
0-10 persons 11-50 persons 51-100 persons 101-300 persons More than 301 persons

Figure 5-4-2 shows the percentage of children who have made new “friends” online through social networking
services. Approximately 32 per cent of children who use social networking services met or started to communicate
with new “friends” online. When comparing countries, Denmark has the highest proportion at 49 per cent and
Portugal the lowest at 17 per cent.

Figure 5-4-2  Children who have met new “friends” on social networking services by country
(% of children who use social networking services)

TOTAL
(n=2527) 31.8% 62.4% 5.7%
JAPAN
(n=189) 31.2% 60.8% 7.9%
BELGIUM
(n=300) 29.8% 66.7% 3.5%
DENMARK
(n=371) 48.5% 44.5% 7.0%
IRELAND
(n=271) 33.6% 60.1% 6.4%
ITALY
(n=318) 23.4% 70.1% 6.5%
PORTUGAL
(n=375) 16.6% 81.3% 2.1%
ROMANIA
(n=397) 45.0% 46.3% 8.8%
UK
(n=307) 22.8% 73.1% 4.1%

Yes No Don’t know

19
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Figure 5-4-3 shows the number of “friends” on social networking services that children actually met in person
after initially becoming friends with them online. Looking at all eight countries surveyed, 30 per cent of children
had met new social networking “friends” in person, with Portugal having the largest percentage at 44 per cent,
followed by Italy at 42 per cent and Romania at 40 per cent.

Figure 5-4-3  Number of new online “friends” from social networking services that children have
actually met in person by country (% of children who had made new online “friends”
on social networking services)

5.2% 3.7%
TOTAL
(n=747) 69.6% 17.5% 3.9%
10.2%
JAPAN
(n=59) 71.2% 6.8% 11.9%

2.9% 0.9%
BELGIUM
(n=85) 71.4% 14.9% 9.9%

1.7% 4.8%
DENMARK
(n=168) 70.4% 18.1% 5.0%

0.8% 1.0%
IRELAND
(n=89) 89.6% 7.6% 1.0%

11.1% 6.4%
ITALY
(n=71) 57.7% 21.0% 3.8%

6.0% 1.6%
PORTUGAL
(n=61) 55.7% 34.8% 1.9%

8.1% 3.4%
ROMANIA
(n=149) 60.1% 21.6% 4.7%

4.4%
UK
(n=65) 85.0% 9.4% 1.2%

0 persons 1-2 persons 3-4 persons 5-10 persons More than 11 persons

20
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

5.5 Children’s privacy settings on social networks

There are various settings on social networking services that allow the user to control the amount of content they
share with others. Three levels of privacy are examined in this report:

Private: Only friends/contacts can see the user’s information.

Partially private: Friends of friends can see the user’s information.
Public: Everyone can see the user’s information.

Across the eight countries surveyed, 46 per cent of children using social networking services had set their profile
to “private” so as not to disclose the contents of their profiles and 23 per cent to “partially private”. Romania was
the only country where the majority of children used a “public” setting. In the other seven countries, the most
common setting was “private” (Figure 5-5-1).

Figure 5-5-1  Children’s privacy settings on social networking services by country privacy setting
(% of children who use social networking services)

4.5%

25.9%

TOTAL
(n=2528)
46.4%
23.1%

3.6% 10.4% 3.2%

12.2 % 12.2%
17.7% 20.6%
19.0%

JAPAN BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND 21.2%

(n=189) 15.3%
(n=300) (n=371) (n=271)
21.0%
28.0%
53.4% 57.7% 41.0% 63.4%

2.1% 1.6% 3.6% 2.4%

16.1%
38.7% 23.9%
29.4%
27.8%
ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA UK
(n=318) (n=375) (n=397) 52.3% (n=307)

18.7% 26.2%
50.3% 20.2% 55.3%
31.4%

Public Partially private Private Don’t know, can’t remember

21
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

No correlation between age and privacy settings was found but a gender difference was identified, with girls
tending to have higher privacy settings (i.e. “private” or “partially private”) than boys (Figure 5-5-2).

Figure 5-5-2  Children’s privacy settings on social networking services by gender

(per cent of children who use social networking services)

4.6% 4.8% 4.3%

46.4% 41.3% 51.8%

23.0%
23.1%
23.2%

25.9% 30.9% 20.7%

TOTAL BOYS GIRLS

(N=2528) (N=1284) (N=1244)

Public Partially private Private Don’t know, can’t remember

22
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

MOBILE PHONES AND

CHILDREN’S WELLBEING
This chapter examines some of the
concerns over children’s use of mobile
phones and whether their use of mobile
phones has changed their attitudes
and/or behaviour.

Key findings

10%
of children who use
38% of children who
mobile phones have use smartphones
gone without eating felt anxious when
or sleeping due to they couldn’t use
time spent on the the internet, with
internet. children tending to
feel this more as
Japanese children had a much higher rate than
they grew older.
the European children surveyed, at 29%.

22%
of children who use mobile
phones felt they spend less
time with family, friends
or schoolwork due to the
internet, and 20% had
tried, unsuccessfully,
to reduce the time they
spend on the internet.
54%
40%
of children who use mobile
phones exchange messages
with their parents almost
every day and…
speak to their parents on
the phone nearly daily.
Japanese children
message and call their
parents at significantly
lower rates than
European children, at
11% and 7% respectively.
23
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

6.1 Mobile phones and excessive use

Figure 6-1-1 shows that while 90 per cent of children who 38 per cent of children with smartphones felt anxious or
use mobile phones have not changed their habits or bothered when they could not use the internet (Figure
activities, around 10 per cent have gone without eating 6-1-2).11 Portugal had the highest reported proportion
or sleeping due to the time that they spend on the at 53 per cent, followed by the United Kingdom at 46
internet.10 In Japan, this proportion is 29 per cent - much per cent and Japan at 43 per cent. Children tended to
higher than in the European countries surveyed - which feel this way more as they grew older but no significant
may be due to children in Japan spending less time difference was found based on gender.
on the internet for educational purposes and more for
entertainment purposes, such as gaming and chatting.

Figure 6-1-1  “I have gone without eating or sleeping because of the internet”
(% of children who use mobile phones)

21.1%

10.2%
7.9% 7.5% 7.7%
6.7%
8.0% 4.5%
3.3% 3.3% Applies

2.3% 1.8% 0.7% 1.8% 0.5% 0.3% 3.1% 2.4% Applies somewhat
TOTAL
(n=2940)

JAPAN
(n=375)
BELGIUM
(n=308)
DENMARK
(n=466)
IRELAND
(n=333)
ITALY
(n=348)
PORTUGAL
(n=379)
ROMANIA
(n=346)
UK
(n=384)

Figure 6-1-2  “I have felt anxious or bothered when I cannot use the internet”
(% of children who use smartphones)

Applies Applies

Applies somewhat Applies somewhat

38.8%
31.0%
29.5% 28.8%
30.9%
24.5%
24.7% 22.9% 24.9% 20.7% 24.7%
21.2%
15.9% 19.1% 23.9% 21.6%
17.7% 15.6%

18.1%
15.3% 16.4% 15.9% 16.0%
12.8% 12.6% 12.4% 12.9% 12.2% 14.1% 12.8% 13.4%
9.9%
3.8% 6.2% 5.0 % 7.5%
TOTAL
(n=1846)

JAPAN
(n=175)
BELGIUM
(n=200)
DENMARK
(n=415)
IRELAND
(n=249)
ITALY
(n=228)
PORTUGAL
(n=170)
ROMANIA
(n=111)
UK
(n=298)

TOTAL
(n=1846)
AGED 9
(n=79)
AGED 10
(n=113)
AGED 11
(n=160)
AGED 12
(n=226)
AGED 13
(n=270)
AGED 14
(n=290)
AGED 15
(n=344)
AGED 16
(n=364)

10. The Japanese results are the total of “Applies” and “Applies somewhat”. European children were asked about frequency and the results are the total of
“Very often” + “Fairly often”.
11. The Japanese results are the total of “Applies” and “Applies somewhat”. European children were asked about frequency and the results are the total of
“Very often” + “Fairly often”

24
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Across the countries surveyed, 26 per cent of children don’t have anything to do (Figure 6-1-3).12 Children
who use mobile phones unconsciously use their phone tended to do this more as they grew older.
(e.g. checking mail, viewing internet sites) when they

Figure 6-1-3  “I catch myself surfing the internet when I am not really interested”
(% of children who use mobile phones)

Applies Applies

Applies somewhat Applies somewhat 31.3%

30.9% 24.3%

23.8%
19.4%
21.6% 20.5% 18.0%
19.4% 19.2%
20.5% 15.9% 14.5%
15.0% 11.7%
10.1% 7.0% 6.8% 11.4% 11.8%
12.0%
7.5% 7.5% 8.1% 6.8% 6.1% 5.5%
6.1% 5.1%
1.4% 2.1% 2.9% 1.1% 1.2% 1.3% 3.4%
TOTAL
(n=2940)

JAPAN
(n=375)
BELGIUM
(n=308)
DENMARK
(n=467)
IRELAND
(n=332)
ITALY
(n=348)
PORTUGAL
(n=379)
ROMANIA
(n=346)
UK
(n=384)

TOTAL
(n=2939)
AGED 9
(n=187)
AGED 10
(n=251)
AGED 11
(n=298)
AGED 12
(n=386)
AGED 13
(n=416)
AGED 14
(n=428)
AGED 15
(n=473)
AGED 16
(n=501)
22 per cent of children using a mobile phone felt Japan had the highest such proportion at 33 per cent,
that they spent less time with their family, friends or and this tendency among children increased with age.
schoolwork because of the internet (Figure 6-1-4).13

Figure 6-1-4  “I have spent less time than I should with family, friends or schoolwork because of
the internet” (% of child mobile phone users)

Applies Applies

Applies somewhat Applies somewhat

26.1% 24.8%
20.0% 22.3%
20.0%
19.8% 18.8%
16.9% 16.9%
16.7% 15.3%
13.6% 14.2%
13.0%

8.7%
8.3%
11.2% 6.4%
6.4% 8.6% 8.4%
6.9% 7.4%
6.3% 6.5%
5.5% 4.7% 5.2% 5.5%
4.5% 3.7%
1.7% 2.1% 0.8% 2.7% 2.1%
TOTAL
(n=2940)

JAPAN
(n=375)

BELGIUM
(n=308)

DENMARK
(n=468)

IRELAND
(n=333)

ITALY
(n=349)

PORTUGAL
(n=380)

ROMANIA
(n=346)

UK
(n=385)

TOTAL
(n=2940)

AGED 9
(n=188)

AGED 10
(n=251)

AGED 11
(n=298)

AGED 12
(n=386)

AGED 13
(n=416)

AGED 14
(n=429)

AGED 15
(n=472)

AGED 16
(n=502)

12. Calculation based on children using a mobile phone. The Japanese results are the total of “Applies” and “Applies somewhat”. European children were asked
about frequency and the results are the total of “Very often” + “Fairly often”.
13. Calculation based on children using a mobile phone. The Japanese results are the total of “Applies” and “Applies somewhat”. European children were asked
frequency and the results are the total of “Very often” + “Fairly often”.

25
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

20 per cent of all children using mobile phones tried to at 28 per cent (Figure 6-1-5)14. Again, a correlation with
reduce the time they spend on a mobile phone but were age was found.
unsuccessful, with Japan showing the highest proportion

Figure 6-1-5  “I have tried unsuccessfully to spend less time on the internet”
(% of children who use a mobile phone)

Applies Applies

Applies somewhat Applies somewhat

22.1%
19.8% 20.3%
17.1% 28.2%

15.6% 15.2% 15.6% 16.1%

15.0% 15.1% 15.0%
14.4%

9.8%
7.5% 9.6%
7.9%
6.9%

7.5%
5.9% 6.3% 4.8% 4.8%
4.8% 4.5% 5.1% 4.8% 4.8% 4.8%
4.2% 4.8% 4.8%
2.6% 2.4% 4.8%
4.8%
TOTAL
(n=2939

JAPAN
(n=375)

BELGIUM
(n=308)

DENMARK
(n=467)

IRELAND
(n=333)

ITALY
(n=347)

PORTUGAL
(n=379)

ROMANIA
(n=346)

UK
(n=384)

TOTAL
(n=2939)

AGED 9
(n=187)

AGED 10
(n=251)

AGED 11
(n=299)

AGED 12
(n=387)

AGED 13
(n=416)

AGED 14
(n=428)

AGED 15
(n=473)

AGED 16
(n=500)
6.2 Communication between parents and children
Tables 6-2-1 and 6-2-2 show the frequency with which and indicate a particular difference between European
parents and children communicate by mobile phone. countries and Japan. This may be due to a relatively low
On average across the countries surveyed, 40 per cent context-dependent culture in Europe where individuals
of children exchanged messages with their parents are encouraged to express their feelings or thoughts
almost every day. Portugal had the highest rate at 55 through language. This differs from Japan, where the
per cent, followed by the United Kingdom and Italy culture is highly context-dependent and individuals
at 51 per cent, and Japan significantly lower at 11 per are encouraged to understand situations or conditions
cent. It is likely that these variances mostly reflect without communicating verbally or messaging.
cultural communication preferences in each country

14. The Japanese results are the total of “Applies” and “Applies somewhat”. European children were asked about frequency and the results are the total of “Very
often” + “Fairly often”.

26
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Table 6-2-1  Messaging communication frequency between parents and children

(% of children who use a mobile phone)

55.1%
50.5% 50.7%
47.7%

39.9% 40.5%

32.1%
28.8%

10.9%

TOTAL JAPAN BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA UK

(n=2934) (n=375) (n=308) (n=467) (n=333) (n=346) (n=379) (n=344) (n=383)

Table 6-2-2  Voice calls communication frequency between parents and children
(% of children who use a mobile phone)

77.2% 76.8%

63.9% 63.1%
57.3%
54.3%
50.9%

35.9%

6.7%

TOTAL JAPAN BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA UK

(n=2936) (n=375) (n=308) (n=466) (n=332) (n=348) (n=380) (n=346) (n=382)

Table 6-2-2 shows the frequency of voice calls between parents and children. Across the countries surveyed,
54 per cent of children talked with their parents almost every day. Italy and Romania had the highest rates at
77 per cent and, once again, Japan was the lowest at 7 per cent.

27
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

DIGITAL LITERACY, SKILLS AND

PARENTAL CONTROLS
This chapter looks at children’s digital
literacy, skills and competencies in using
mobile phones and the internet, and
explores where children go for advice.
It also examines the extent of parental
involvement in children’s mobile and
internet usage.

Key findings
In both Japan and

80
Europe, children seek

%
advice on their mobile
phone or internet use
from their parents first
and then their friends.

This changes with age, with older

children (aged 15 and 16) turning
to their friends before family.

63%
of children aged 13 or older
who use mobile phones can
block messages that they don’t
want to receive, and nearly

70% can erase

their internet
history. of European parents ask their teenage
children about their internet use
compared to 32% of Japanese parents.
Japanese children had the Similarly 40% of European parents
lowest results in both categories have sat with their children when they
among countries surveyed. use the internet, compared to 21% of
Japanese parents.
2828
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

7.1 Children’s digital literacy and skills

Improving children’s digital literacy is an important step
in making it safer for children to use mobile phones. It
can help children understand the risks and develop their
skills for managing their mobile phone and internet use.
Figures 7-1-1 through 7-1-3 show the different skills
developed by children who use mobile phones.15 Across
the 8 countries surveyed, 80 per cent of children aged 13
or older who use mobile phones could block messages
that they did not want to receive, and 69 per cent
could erase the histories of sites they had viewed.
Children in Japan had the lowest results in both
of these skill areas. This may be due to a number
of factors such as the relatively high age of first
mobile phone ownership, little public education on
mobile phone usage and lower ICT literacy among the
older population.

Figure 7-1-1  Ability to block messages (% of children who use a mobile phone)

TOTAL
(n=2166) 80.4% 15.6% 4.1%
JAPAN
(n=367) 55.9% 22.1% 22.1%
BELGIUM
(n=258) 80.2% 19.8%
DENMARK
(n=255) 92.6% 7.4%
IRELAND 1.1%
(n=246) 87% 11.9%
ITALY
(n=255) 84.4% 14.9% 0.7%
PORTUGAL
(n=253) 89.8% 10.2%
ROMANIA Can
(n=264) 73.1% 26.5% 0.4%
Can’t
UK
(n=268) 90.9% 8.7% 0.4%
Don’t know

Figure 7-1-2  Ability to erase the histories of sites viewed on the internet
(% of children who use a mobile phone)

TOTAL
(n=2166) 69.1% 24.1% 6.9%
JAPAN
(n=367) 50.7% 19.6% 29.7%
BELGIUM
(n=258) 71.8% 26% 2.2%
DENMARK
(n=255) 76% 20.6% 3.4%
IRELAND
(n=246) 66.8% 30.5% 2.7%
ITALY
(n=255) 72.5% 23.8% 3.7%
PORTUGAL
(n=253) 86.9% 12.8% 0.4%
ROMANIA Can
(n=264) 63.2% 34.7% 2%
Can’t
UK
(n=268) 72.6% 26% 1.4% Don’t know

15. Figure 7-1-1 and Figure 7-1-2 were calculated based on children ages 13 through 16. Figure 7-2-3 was calculated based on all respondents (children ages 9
through 16).
29
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

7.2 Sources of advice for children

Figures 7-2-1 and 7-2-316 show the people from whom by friends for 18 per cent of children. Younger children
Japanese children seek advice about their mobile predominantly ask their parents for help and older
phone use. Parents were the most popular source of children increasingly seek advice from their friends.
advice for 67 per cent of surveyed children, followed

Figure 7-2-1  People from whom Japanese children seek advice about their mobile phone
(% of children who use a mobile phone)

Japan (=723)
66.5%

18.3%
11.2%
3.6% 0.3%
0.1%

PARENTS FRIENDS SIBLINGS TEACHERS OTHER DON’T

(n=1383) (n=1386) AND OTHER (n=1000) (CONSULT CONSULT
FAMILY ONLINE WITH ONLINE WITH
MEMBERS OTHERS, ETC.) OTHERS
(n=1385) (n=1500) (n=1383)

Figure 7-2-2  People from whom European children seek advice about their internet use
(% of children who access the internet)

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
Friends Parents Siblings Teachers

Average Belgium Denmark Ireland Italy Portugal Romania UK

(n=3565) (n=511) (n=501) (n=503) (n=511) (n=502) (n=522) (n=516)

16. Calculation based on all respondents (children ages 9 through 16). The Japanese survey used a single-answer format.

30
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Figures 7-2-2 and 7-2-417 show the people to whom (58 per cent). The same trend was found around age,
European children turn to for advice about their with older children increasingly turning to their friends
internet use. As with Japan, parents were the most rather than their parents for help.
popular source (75 per cent), followed by friends

Figure 7-2-3  People from whom Japanese children seek advice about their mobile phone by age
(% of children who use a mobile phone)

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
Aged 9 Aged 10 Aged 11 Aged 12 Aged 13 Aged 14 Aged 15 Aged 16
(n=86) (n=89) (n=90) (n=91) (n=91) (n=92) (n=92) (n=92)
AGE

Parents Friends Siblings and other familiy members Teachers Other (Consult online with others, etc.) Don’t consult online with others

Figure 7-2-4  People from whom European children seek advice about their internet use
(% of children who use the internet)

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
Aged 9 Aged 10 Aged 11 Aged 12 Aged 13 Aged 14 Aged 15 Aged 16
AGE

Parents Friends Siblings Teachers

17. Calculation based on all respondents (children ages 9 through 16). The European survey used a multiple-answer format.

31
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

7.3 Children’s internet use and parental involvement

Figure 7-3-1 shows Japanese parents’ involvement in
the content their children access or exchange online.
Only 32 per cent of Japanese parents ask their teenage
children about their activities on the internet, in
contrast to parents in the seven European countries
surveyed where the majority (63 per cent) ask. Nearly
40 per cent of parents in these European countries
have sat with their children while they are online –
almost double the percentage of parents in Japan
(21 per cent). In Japan, half of all parents never ask their
teenage children about their social networking profile
or with whom they are exchanging messages.

Figure 7-3-1  Japanese parental involvement in children’s internet usage

(% of children aged 13 or older)

TYPE OF
SITE USED
(n=367) 31.9% 21.3% 38.4% 8.4%

CONTENT OF
MAIL AND
MESSAGE
23.7% 13.4% 48.8% 14.2%
(n=367)

CONTENT OF
SNS PROFILE 18.0% 10.6% 55.6% 15.8%
(n=367)

CONTACTS YOU
ARE EXCHANGING
MESSAGES WITH 23.2% 11.7% 49.9% 15.3%
(n=367)

Parents ask Parents actually look and check Parents never ask or look at Don’t know

32
 CHILDREN’S USE OF MOBILE PHONES – A SPECIAL REPORT 2014

Figure 7-3-2 shows the level of involvement European 39 per cent have sat with their children while they use
parents have in their teenage children’s internet use. the internet or helped them when something is difficult
Over 60 per cent have spoken to their children about to do or find on the internet. Only 41 per cent have
their activities on the internet or suggested ways for helped their children when something has bothered
them to behave towards others online. In contrast, only them on the internet.

Figure 7-3-2  European parental involvement in children’s internet usage

(% of children aged 13 or older)

74%
72.2%

71.8%
71.3%

69.1%

68%
67.1%

65.8%
65.4%

65.4%

63%

62.6%
62.6%
61.7%
60.8%

60.4%
58.9%
57.6%

57.3%
56.4%

53.4%
53.1%

50.5%

45.2%
44.5%
43.6%

42.3%

39.2%
39%
39%
31.9%

27.7%

BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA UK TOTAL FOR 7

EUROPEAN
NATIONS

Talk to you about what you Sit with you while you Helped you when something is difficult Explained why some
do on the internet use the internet to do or find on the internet websites are good or bad
72.3%

72.2%
70.7%

69.4%
67.1%

66.9%

64.2%
64%

63.2%

61.4%
60.8%
60.7%

60.2%
59.5%
58.1%

57.8%

57.5%
57.4%
57.1%
54.9%

54.8%
54.7%

53%
47.6%

46%
45.4%
44%

42.9%
41%

40.9%
39.6%

27.5%

BELGIUM DENMARK IRELAND ITALY PORTUGAL ROMANIA UK TOTAL FOR 7

EUROPEAN
NATIONS

Suggested ways to use Suggested ways to behave Helped you in the past when something In general, talked to you about what you would do
the internet safely towards other people online has bothered you on the internet if something on the internet bothered you

33
To download the PDF report please visit the
GSMA website at www.gsma.com/myouth