Children use less Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok
Half of Norwegian nine- and ten-year-olds use social media, even though there is a 13-year-old age limit, but fewer are on Snapchat and TikTok than two years ago.
90 per cent of Norwegians aged 9 – 18 are on some form of social media. But the Norwegian Media Authority's survey ‘Children and media 2022’ shows a decline in use for those under the age of 12.
Of those aged 9 – 11, 24 per cent are on Snapchat, compared to 44 per cent in 2020; 7 per cent are on Instagram, compared to 18 per cent in 2020; and 40 per cent are on Tiktok, compared to 54 per cent in 2020.
Don't know why
“We don't know anything for sure about the reason why use in the youngest age groups has decreased, but it is something that is interesting to find out more about,” Director Mari Velsand of the Norwegian Media Authority says.
Velsand believes the decline may indicate that more parents are holding back on how early their children are allowed to use social media.
“Here, increased attention to privacy challenges, and the fact that some of these services have content that is not intended for children, can come into play,” she says.
Almost everyone uses social media
The survey has been carried out since 2006 to provide an overall overview of 9 – 18 year olds' digital media use. Around 3,200 of those aged 9 – 18 from all over the country have participated this year, in addition to 2,200 parents with children aged 1 – 17. Data is collected and processed by Kantar Public.
In general, the figures show that from the age of 13, almost everyone uses social media. YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok are most used among 9 – 18-year-olds in 2022.
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Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik.
Read the Norwegian version of this article on ung.forskning.no
