Social Media Use Declining Among Children Under 13

Children under 13 are giving up Snapchat and TikTok… But not YouTube!

Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram… If social media is now prohibited for users under 13, this does not stop those concerned from doing as they please. Thus, many minors aged 11 and 12 regularly hang around on social networks. It’s not really secret. Regardless, the trend appears to be reversing. Indeed, while parents With more and more people wondering about the benefits of equipping their precious little ones with a smartphone before heading off to college, social media seems to be losing ground in the hearts of young users. Between 11 and 12 years is a kind of fateful period. Several friends have a smartphone, the Holy Grail, but social media is still off-limits to them. The temptation is often too strong… But social networks have lost a little of their splendor. In 2023, 71% of 11-12 year olds said they had already looked at social media, up from 87% in 2022. Although many still browse these platforms which may be harmful to them, on notes a significant decline among younger fans. This is good news, which, however, greatly surprised the Heaven agency that conducted the study! But why this sudden drop?

For months, the news was regularly punctuated by sad news of teenagers committing suicide. Cyber ​​harassment is a government priority today. THAT parents people are now aware of this scourge that affects many children. Users under 13 years of age are simply “persona non grata,” and young people under 15 years of age need their consent parents register on social networks. THAT parents more alert than ever face on social networks, especially for young users. The latter, too, may have understood the reasons for this ban. In addition, social networks are under certain pressure, and their weakness has already been repeatedly noted. TikTok would remove 80 in 2022 millions accounts believed to belong to users under the age of 13. Even those who use social media are showing a curious decline in interest. TikTok and Snapchat, although designed for younger users, are no longer as popular. In 2023, they are used by 23.5% (compared to 43.5% in 2022) and 35% (compared to 56% last year) of children 11-12 years old, respectively. Overall, children under 13 reduced their time using social media by 14 minutes. Even if 27% realize that this is still too many. Today, YouTube and WhatsApp are indispensable applications for young users. They benefit from respective penetration rates of 60.5% and 43%. YouTube allows them to watch a wide range of content, from cartoons to creating influential content, while WhatsApp allows them to stay connected with their family. If the numbers for 2023 are encouraging, we will have to wait until next year to confirm or not this trend in social media for users under 13 years of age. Children under 13 use social media less than in 2023. YouTube and WhatsApp remain favorites, while TikTok and Snapchat are losing ground. It remains to be seen whether this trend will be confirmed in 2024.