Developing safer and better digital environments for children and young people requires robust knowledge of how they engage with these environments and the benefits and risks they face as they mature into adulthood. While research and evidence are fragmented, as noted in the latest BIK Policy monitor report, there are some strong European examples of regular comprehensive national studies that highlight the importance of age and developmental stages for understanding children's and young people's digitaDeveloping safer and better digital environments for children and young people requires robust knowledge of how they engage with these environments and the benefits and risks they face as they mature into adulthood. While research and evidence are fragmented, as noted in the latest BIK Policy monitor report, there are some strong European examples of regular comprehensive national studies that highlight the importance of age and developmental stages for understanding children's and young people's digital lives, and provide the much-needed knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and meaningful online safety interventions.

Robust comparative evidence: the EU Kids Online study

The EU Kids Online 2020 study, featuring survey results on children’s online experiences across 19 European countries, is the most comprehensive cross-European source of data on how age affects internet access, daily activities, skills acquisition, risk exposure, and safety perceptions among children aged 9 to 16. According to EU Kids Online, age is the main predictor of the nature and intensity of use, the scale of opportunities encountered (as demonstrated by the 'ladder of opportunities'), and the probability of risk exposure. Age differences demonstrate that as children mature, their digital lives become characterised by greater access, increased time spent online, higher engagement in diverse activities (and risks), and lessened parental oversight, while simultaneously showing increased digital skills and, often, greater emotional resilience to common online risks.

The 2020 EU Kids Online study noted that age limits set by platforms appeared to be only partially effective, with no direct relation between the so-called ‘digital age of consent’ (defined differently across European countries) and the substantial proportion of ‘under-age’ social media users. It recommended more detailed research on the issue of internet access of younger children, with or without parental permission, to support national decision making on this key issue.

While the next study of EU Kids Online is expected sometime in 2026, the annual BIK Policy monitor survey has identified a number of national studies that provide detailed insights into children’s online experiences where age is a significant differentiating factor. Such studies, carried out nationally, not only provide a crucial evidence base for policy-making in EU member states but also highlight the cultural specificity and context in which children participate in the digital environment.

Germany's KIM and JIM studies series

In Germany, the KIM (Kindheit, Internet, Medien) and JIM (Jugend, Information, Medien) studies have long served as an essential source of information on children and young people’s experiences with media and digitalisation. Since 1998, the JIM study has been conducted annually as a baseline study on the media use among 12- to 19-year-olds. The KIM studies of media in the everyday lives of children (ages 6 to 13) have been conducted every two years since 1999. Combined, both studies provide a unique reflection of the constantly changing framework conditions of the media offerings in Germany and of the distinct experiences of different age groups. The most recent editions, the JIM Study 2025 and the KIM Study 2024, continue to illustrate substantial age effects across children's and young people’s digital lives, including usage, activities, opportunities, risks, and the regulatory context.

Drawing on these recent studies, age is shown to be a crucial factor influencing media exposure, ownership, and platform preferences, generally marking a shift toward greater personal device ownership, increased usage intensity, and a preference for individual, digital activities over collective media experience. Personal smartphone ownership, for example, is shown to rise dramatically during childhood, increasing from 11per cent among 6- to 7-year-olds to 79 per cent among 12- to 13-year-olds. Almost all young people aged 12–19 years own their own smartphone (95 per cent).

In the 2024 KIM study 54 per cent of children who are online use the internet daily – an increase of 7 percentage points from 2022. The development is particularly marked among 8- to 9-year-olds who are active online, where the proportion of daily use has almost doubled over two years, from 23 per cent to 40 per cent. The 2024 KIM study also highlighted a significant shift in video consumption: replacing the children’s TV channels which dominated the list of most popular media, Netflix has now become the most popular streaming platform for films, series, and videos for the first time, with 21 per cent of 6- to 13-year-olds reporting this.

The recently published 2025 JIM study also underlined the central role of smartphone use for this age cohort. The average smartphone screen time for teenagers was found to be almost four hours a day. This increases with age, from under 3 hours for the youngest (12-13 years old) to over 4.5 hours for those 18-19 years old. Although most teenagers know that breaks from their smartphones are good for them, self-regulating their device use is difficult.

The 2025 JIM study also notes the increasingly prominent role of AI in everyday life: 74 per cent of 12- to 19-year-olds use AI applications for homework or learning (an increase from 65 per cent in 2024). Use for information searches has also grown significantly –ChatGPT was found to be the second most frequently used research and information tool, behind traditional search engines. 57 per cent consider the information provided by AI to be trustworthy.

More generally, self-assessment of media literacy and digital skills generally increases with age. However, according to the 2025 JIM study, even in the oldest age group (18–19 years), less than half of respondents rate their knowledge of recognising 'Deepfakes', performing reverse image searches, or setting up VPN connections as 'good'. Furthermore, half of 12- to 13-year-olds said they did not know what 'Deepfakes' are.

Both the KIM and JIM studies highlight in their recommendations the importance of age-appropriate protection and offerings rather than exclusion from the digital world as a preferred approach. These should be supported by essential media skills and information and news literacy, given the increasing prominence of AI in children’s use of online services. For younger children, it is recommended that parents and caregivers actively support their entry into the digital world, offering guidance and child-friendly alternatives.

Norway's Barn og medier study series

Norway’s media authority, Medietilsynet, regularly surveys children and young people aged 9 to 18 years on their media use. Its Children and Media survey (Barn og medier) dates back to 2006 and has been published every two years, most recently in 2024. The Barn og medier 2024 report provides extensive evidence that age is a primary factor structuring children's digital lives, influencing device access, activity intensity, exposure to harm, and perceptions of media use.

Findings highlight a significant trend toward earlier mobile phone acquisition and an earlier entry into social media, despite official age limits. For example, more children are shown to have acquired their first mobile phone at a younger age than in previous studies. 94 per cent of 9–11-year-olds have their own mobile phone, up from 85 per cent ten years before (in 2014). Access to a home PC or computer increased significantly among those aged 12 and over, rising from 65 per cent among 9–12-year-olds to over 80 per cent among older groups. Conversely, access to a personal tablet decreases with age; almost 80 per cent of 9–12-year-olds have access, while only just over half of 15–18-year-olds do.

In terms of online activities, Barn og medier 2024 found that while overall social media use is 86 per cent among 9–18-year-olds, usage increases dramatically with age. Half of 9-year-olds used social media, but by age 13, nearly all children did. The proportion of children categorised as 'heavy users' (spending a minimum of three hours daily on a single mobile activity) rises from 8 per cent among 9–10-year-olds to 53 per cent among 17–18-year-olds. Despite the 13-year age limit for most social media platforms, a majority of children who used these services had accounts before that age. For Snapchat and TikTok, 79 per cent and 74 per cent of users, respectively, obtained an account before age 13.

Exposure to content risks, such as hate messages and violent content, was also found to increase with age. Conversely, the experience of certain adverse social events, like online bullying and nasty comments, was more common among younger teenagers (13–14-year-olds) than 17–18-year-olds. Furthermore, age dictates levels of parental supervision, which shift from active supervision of younger children to reduced control for older adolescents. Interestingly, the number of adolescents reporting having profiles or apps unknown to their parents increases with age, rising significantly from the 13–14 age range onwards. Against this background, the Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet) recommends strict adherence to age limits for digital services while supporting coordinated efforts with other state agencies to support a safe digital childhood.

Belgium's Apenstaartjaren study

Starting in 2008, Apenstaartjaren ('Monkey Tail Years') is a study conducted in Flanders and Brussels by Mediaraven, Mediawijs, the research group imec-mict-UGhent, and Link in de Kabel. It examines the media use and media literacy of 6- to 18-year-olds every two years.

Its most recent report for 2024, highlights the concept of 'digital puberty' (digitale puberteit), referring to the crucial transition period, mainly occurring during the third grade of primary school (Lager Onderwijs, LO) and the first grade of secondary school (Secundair Onderwijs, SO), where media usage intensifies and shifts dramatically toward a more adult model. Usage during this transition period shifted from family-oriented media to interpersonal communication and social networking. The third grade of secondary education shows the highest weekly use of services such as WhatsApp (95%), Snapchat (94%), TikTok (87%), and Instagram (85%). Notably, media literacy education generally peaks in the second grade of secondary school. In contrast, relatively little media use and digital literacy occur in primary school, meaning that many children who start using social media do so before receiving formal media literacy or digital safety education. Among its conclusions, the 2024 Apenstaartjaren report recommends that media literacy education begin earlier in school and that effective ways be found to teach digital skills and literacy to highly diverse groups of children and young people.

Luxembourg's BEE SECURE Radar

The BEE SECURE Radar report is an annual study produced by the Luxembourgish Safer Internet Centre. This regular series of studies focuses on current trends in how young people use ICT, while also highlighting the associated risks and the importance of adopting preventive measures. The 2025 edition found that 42 per cent of children have their first internet contact before age four, and 90 per cent acquire their first smartphone by age 12.

Illustrating some of the cultural differences between countries, in Luxembourg, children acquire a social media account on average at age 12. However, 55 per cent of 11- to 13-year-olds were reported not yet to have an account, and this drops to 11 per cent for 14- to 16-year-olds. Risks were found to evolve with age generally: while general cyberbullying victimisation is reported by 44 per cent of 12- to 16-year-olds, sexual risks like sexting and exposure to pornography increase markedly for those over 17 years of age. Parental rule enforcement was also found to be generally high, with 94 per cent of parents of 12- to 16-year-olds having rules in place. However, the rules themselves show an age effect: the enforcement of rules and monitoring actions (such as managing screen time or monitoring message history) generally decreases as the child moves from primary to secondary school.

In Luxembourg, the Ministry of National Education, Childhood and Youth (MENJE) launched the multi-annual action plan 'sécher.digital' at the beginning of 2024/25 school year, incorporating the 'Screen-Life Balance' campaign, advocating a healthy, balanced and safe approach to smartphone use and screentime limits according to age.

Evidence-based policy and meaningful online safety intervention

These studies emphasise clearly that children and young people are not all the same. Their needs, interests, capacities, and risks evolve significantly as they grow, making a one-size-fits-all approach to their online safety inadequate. Recognising these developmental differences is essential for designing digital spaces that genuinely meet children where they are, offering appropriate opportunities while reducing potential harm. 

In response, the EU has taken concrete steps to promote safer, fairer, and more suitable digital environments for children, including through the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its guidelines on the protection of minors online under the DSA. The guidelines adopt, as one of their principles, promoting age-appropriate digital environments, requiring online service providers to consider how children of different ages interact with content, features, and interfaces. The guidelines also recommend adopting safety- and privacy-by-design approaches, notably through safer default settings, child-friendly and clearer information and interface design, and protections that adapt to children’s evolving abilities and vulnerabilities.

Crucially, the guidelines also provide comprehensive recommendations regarding age assurance, highlighting when platforms must establish with reasonable confidence whether a user is a child, and where a more precise verification of age may be needed to tailor protections effectively. The updated European digital identity framework, along with the Age Verification Blueprint released by the European Commission, provide further vital components in supporting age authentication when accessing online platforms.

Together, these measures form a growing framework that supports a more consistent, evidence-informed, and child-centred digital ecosystem across Europe.

Interested in more?

Explore other relevant research in the Research and reports directory of the BIK Knowledge hub. Together with the BIK Policy monitor, it is updated annually and collates research that informs the implementation of the BIK+ strategy across the EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway.

Learn more about the DSA and how it protects minors online in the family-friendly toolkit.

This year's Safer Internet Forum, taking place on 04 December, themed "Why age matters: Protecting and empowering youth in the digital age", discusses how age-appropriate online experiences can be ensured while respecting children's rights. Registration for online participation is still open.