Cetic.br publishes unprecedented data on the use of digital technologies by Brazilian children up to 8 years old

The launch of the indicators took place this Tuesday (11) during the celebration of Safer Internet Day in São Paulo

In the last decade, Internet use and cell phone ownership have increased among Brazilian children up to 8 years old. Unprecedented indicators produced by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br), a department of the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br), released this Tuesday (11), confirm this progress. The analysis, carried out based on the databases of the TIC Domicílios and TIC Kids Online Brasil surveys from 2015 to 2024, reveals that the proportion of Internet users jumped from 9% to 44% in the 0 to 2 years age range; from 26% to 71% in the 3 to 5 years age range and from 41% to 82% in the 6 to 8 years age range, comparing 2015 to 2024.

In the section on cell phone ownership, a difference was identified between the periods before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers remained stable from 2015 to 2019, grew in 2021, and stabilized again at a higher level until 2024. The most significant variations were found in the age range of 3 to 5 years, with an increase of 7 percentage points (rising from 12% in 2019 to 19% in 2021) and in the 6 to 8 years range, with an increase of 11 percentage points (from 22% in 2019 to 33% in 2021). Considering the historical series, the proportion of children who owned their own cell phone rose between 2015 and 2024 from 3% to 5% in the 0 to 2 years range; from 6% to 20% in the 3 to 5 years range and from 18% to 36% in the 6 to 8 years range.

The calculation of the new indicators was made possible in 2024 when Cetic.br improved the weighting methodology of the TIC Domicílios and TIC Kids Online Brasil surveys, allowing the estimation of results for all residents of the households visited, and not just the individuals who were interviewed. This enabled, for the first time, the analysis of information regarding the population aged 0 to 8 years that was provided by an adult resident of the same household as the child.

"We are filling an information gap that has long been demanded by society. It is important that these data support the development of policies and actions aimed at protecting children in the digital environment," explains Cetic.br manager Alexandre Barbosa.

Disparities among social classes

As is the case with the population in general, the use of digital technologies by Brazilians aged 0 to 8 years also varies according to socioeconomic conditions. According to the analysis conducted by Cetic.br, among children from households of AB classes, 45% of those aged 0 to 2 years, 90% of those aged 3 to 5 years, and 97% of those aged 6 to 8 years were Internet users in 2024. In class C, the percentages were 47%, 77%, and 88%, respectively. Among those of DE classes, the same indicators reached 40%, 60%, and 69%, respectively.

Significant differences can also be verified concerning cell phone ownership. In the 0 to 2 years age range, the proportions of children with the device are: 11% (AB classes), 5% (class C), and 4% (DE classes). In the 3 to 5 years range: 26% (AB classes), 24% (class C), and 13% (DE classes). In the 6 to 8 years range: 40% (AB classes), 42% (class C), and 27% (DE classes).

Computer

The data produced by Cetic.br also include the use of a computer (desktop, notebook, or tablet) by the population aged 0 to 8 years. In contrast to what has been happening with cell phones, the scenario is one of a reduction in the use of the device. In 2015, 26% of children aged 3 to 5 years and 39% of those aged 6 to 8 years used this type of equipment. In 2024, the proportions decreased to 17% and 26%, respectively – which may be associated with the continuous decline in the presence of computers in households nationwide, as evidenced by the historical series of the TIC Domicílios survey.

Children living in homes with computers tend to use them more than those living in households without the device. In 2024, in the 3 to 5 years range, the usage percentages were 5% for those without the device at home and 44% for those with it. In the 6 to 8 years range, the proportions were 13% and 51%, and for those aged 0 to 2, 1% and 29%, respectively.

The manager of Cetic.br|NIC.br emphasizes that the indicators gathered are a first step towards understanding the use of digital technologies by children aged 0 to 8 years. “The data provide us with an initial look at the topic, but we still need complementary surveys that can qualify the type of use concerning frequency for each age group. It is also crucial to understand what content is accessed and the mediation practices of those responsible for children's Internet use,” he states.

Access the full document "TIC Statistics for children aged 0 to 8 years": https://cetic.br/pt/publicacao/estatisticas-tic-para-criancas-de-0-a-8-anos-de-idade/

About Cetic.br
The Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br), of NIC.br, is responsible for producing indicators and statistics on Internet access and use in Brazil, publishing periodic analyses and information on the development of the network in the country. Cetic.br|NIC.br is also a Regional Study Center under the auspices of UNESCO and will celebrate 20 years of activity in 2025. More information at https://cetic.br/.

About the Brazilian Network Information Center – NIC.br
The Brazilian Network Information Center — NIC.br (https://nic.br/) is a private, non-profit civil entity responsible for the operation of the .br domain, as well as the distribution of IP numbers and the registration of Autonomous Systems in the country. NIC.br implements the decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee - CGI.br since 2005, and all collected resources come from its activities, which are of an essentially private nature. It carries out actions and projects that bring benefits to the Internet infrastructure in Brazil. NIC.br encompasses: Registro.br (https://registro.br/), CERT.br (https://cert.br/), Ceptro.br (https://ceptro.br/), Cetic.br (https://cetic.br/), IX.br (https://ix.br/) and Ceweb.br (https://ceweb.br/), in addition to projects such as Internetsegura.br (https://internetsegura.br/) and the Best Practices for Internet in Brazil Portal (https://bcp.nic.br/). It also hosts the W3C São Paulo Chapter office (https://w3c.br/).

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee – CGI.br
The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee is responsible for establishing strategic guidelines related to the use and development of the Internet in Brazil and coordinates and integrates all Internet service initiatives in the country, promoting technical quality, innovation, and the dissemination of offered services. Based on the principles of multistakeholderism and transparency, CGI.br represents a democratic Internet governance model, praised internationally, in which all sectors of society are equally engaged in its decisions. One of its formulations is the 10 Principles for Internet Governance and Use (https://cgi.br/resolucoes/documento/2009/003). More information at https://cgi.br/.

Press Contacts – NIC.br:

Weber Shandwick
https://webershandwick.com.br/
PABX: (11) 3027-0200 / 3531-4950
Milena Oliveira - moliveira@webershandwick.com – (11) 98384-3500
Paula Boracini - pboracini@webershandwick.com – (11) 98123-5235

Communication Advisory – NIC.br
Carolina Carvalho - Communication Manager - carolcarvalho@nic.br
Ana Nascimento - Communication Coordinator – ananascimento@nic.br

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This content was automatically translated with the support of artificial intelligence.