Share of U.S. children with an electronic device in their home 2019-2021, by type

During a 2021 survey conducted in the United States, it was found that 94 percent of children aged between eight and 18 years had a smartphone in their home, up from 91 percent recorded two years before. The share of children subscribing to streaming services also increased, reaching 84 percent.

The increase in children’s use of technology

Recently, the number of children with access to different kinds of electronic devices has increased. Between 2019 and 2021, subscription streaming devices and VR headsets have become more popular, and in 2021, 84 percent and 17 percent of American households owned them, respectively. Furthermore, not only do children have access to such devices at home, but they also own their own electronic devices. For instance, in that same year, 43 percent of children aged between eight and 12 had a tablet or a computer. Smartphones are the most common devices among children and teens: in 2021, over 70 percent of American 12-year-olds had a smartphone.

Activities performed on electronic devices

American children perform many media activities on electronic devices, such as watching TV, playing games, and video chatting. In 2021, children aged between eight and 12 spent around two hours and 40 minutes watching TV on average. Furthermore, social media usage is prolific, particularly TikTok and Snapchat, on which they spend an average of around 99 and 84 minutes per day, respectively.