TIC Kids Online Brazil 2021: 78% of Connected Children and Teenagers Use Social Media

Survey by CGI.br unprecedentedly presents indicators about the search for health and well-being information by this audience on the web

Among children and teenagers in the country, the use of social media is one of the online activities that have grown the most. In 2021, 78% of Internet users aged 9 to 17 accessed this type of platform, a 10 percentage point increase compared to 2019 (68%). This data is part of the latest edition of the TIC Kids Online Brazil survey, launched this Tuesday (08/16) by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br). Playing online connected with other players (from 57% to 66%) and not connected to them (from 55% to 64%) and shopping in digital environments (from 9% to 19%) also showed growth compared to 2019. The survey, conducted by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) of the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br), was one of the highlights of the 7th Children and Teenagers on the Internet Symposium, held today (8/16) in São Paulo.

Among the platforms used, the proportion of Internet users aged 9 to 17 with an Instagram profile increased from 45% in 2018 to 62% in 2021, a 17 percentage point increase. For the first time, the study investigated the existence of profiles on TikTok and found that 58% of users in the same age group are present on the platform, with a prevalence in classes AB (79%), compared to classes C (57%) and DE (53%).

“Content creation and sharing platforms are among the most used by children and teenagers. In this context, the quality of the Internet connection and digital devices used for access become key to making the most of online opportunities. Therefore, it is central to guarantee equitable connectivity conditions for children and teenagers in different socioeconomic contexts,” points out Alexandre Barbosa, manager of Cetic.br.

In contrast to Instagram and TikTok, Facebook profile ownership fell from 66% to 51% in the same period. The survey also identified that the platform has decreased in relevance among the main social networks used (from 41% to 11%). From a communication perspective, WhatsApp remains the platform on which children and teenagers predominantly have profiles (from 70% in 2018 to 80% in 2021) and is the most widespread among all social strata.

The study also highlighted that multimedia activities such as listening to music (80%) and watching videos, programs, movies, or series (84%) remain among the most conducted by the analyzed population.

Internet Users
TIC Kids Online Brazil indicates that 93% of Brazilians aged 9 to 17 are Internet users, corresponding to 22.3 million connected children and teenagers. The growth compared to 2019 (when the percentage was 89%) was mainly driven by the increase in the proportion of users in the Northeast region (from 79% to 92%) and rural areas (from 75% to 90%).

In 2021, 11.9 million individuals in this age group lived in homes with Internet but without computers, and 2.1 million in homes without a computer and without network connection. The survey also detected that the cell phone remains the primary means of network connection across different social strata. For 53%, the cell phone was the only device used, a reality more present in classes DE (78%) and C (52%) than in classes AB (18%).

Online Marketing Content

Video sites (67%) and social networks (61%) are among the main platforms where children and teenage Internet users reported seeing advertisements for products or brands. The proportions are higher than printed media, such as magazines, newspapers, or comics (21%). In 2021, 81% of Internet users aged 11 to 17 saw product or brand promotion online.

People teaching how to use a product (62%) and unboxing (61%) were the main image or video content where children and teenage network users encountered product or brand promotion. Among the main categories of products or brands seen online are: electronic devices (60%); clothing and shoes (60%); food, drinks, or sweets (57%); video games or games (46%); makeup and other beauty products (46%).

Health and Well-being
The 2021 edition of TIC Kids Online Brazil included, for the first time, data on the use of the Internet to search for information related to health and well-being among the population aged 11 to 17. According to the study, 32% of respondents reported seeking help to deal with something bad they experienced or to talk about their emotions when they felt sad. The proportions were higher in older age groups. Network use for seeking emotional support was reported by 46% of those aged 15 to 17, 28% among those aged 13 to 14, and 15% by those aged 11 to 12.

The survey also investigated contact with health-related topics on the Internet by this population. Information about nutrition (55%) was the most prominent, followed by prevention and treatment of diseases (38%), exercises and ways to stay fit (36%), information about medications (22%), and discussions about sexual health and education (21%).

Beyond physical aspects, 29% of respondents had contact with information about emotions, emotional suffering, mental health, and well-being, and 38% believe that the Internet helped them deal with a health problem.

“The survey aims to gather evidence that contributes to promoting the rights and well-being of children and teenagers. Thus, beyond activities present in the historical series of the survey, the use of the network to seek information on health and emotional support has become a relevant investigation topic,” notes Barbosa.

“Surveys such as TIC Kids Online Brazil are extremely relevant for understanding the current scenario and strengthening the digital literacy and inclusion of the younger generation, with more security and quality, issues intrinsic to the work carried out by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee,” adds José Gontijo, coordinator of CGI.br.

About the Survey
The 8th edition of the TIC Kids Online Brazil survey interviewed 2,651 children and teenagers aged 9 to 17, as well as their parents or guardians, throughout the national territory. The interviews took place between October 2021 and March 2022, aiming to investigate opportunities and risks related to the online participation of this audience. TIC Kids Online Brazil is aligned with the methodological framework developed by the European network EU Kids Online, led by the London School of Economics and with the Global Kids Online project, coordinated by UNICEF.

The complete list of indicators can be found at https://cetic.br/pt/pesquisa/kids-online/indicadores/. To review the survey launch panel, go to https://youtu.be/_7JGOWQkzI8.

Cetic.br also provides the microdata from the 8th edition of the survey for download, in addition to the complete tables of proportions, totals, and respective margins of error at: https://cetic.br/pesquisa/kids-online/microdados.

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, periodically disseminating analyses and information about the network's development in the country. Cetic.br|NIC.br is also a Regional Study Center under UNESCO’s auspices and completed 17 years of operation in 2022. 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 operating the .br domain, distributing IP numbers, and registering Autonomous Systems in the country. NIC.br implements the decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee - CGI.br since 2005, and all resources are derived from its activities, which are of a predominantly private nature. It conducts actions and projects that benefit the Internet infrastructure in Brazil. NIC.br includes:  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 Portal of Best Practices for the Internet in Brazil (https://bcp.nic.br/). It also houses the W3C Chapter São Paulo office (https://w3c.br/). 

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee – CGI.br
The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, responsible for establishing strategic guidelines related to the use and development of the Internet in Brazil, coordinates and integrates all Internet service initiatives in the country, promoting technical quality, innovation, and dissemination of offered services. Based on the principles of multilateralism and transparency, CGI.br represents a democratic Internet governance model, praised internationally, where all sectors of society equally participate in their 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/. 

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