Children and young people are still interested in the "offline" world
Although children in Switzerland are avid users of smartphones and tablets, they much prefer to play outside, play sports, or hang out with friends. This is the conclusion reached by a new study.
Even in the digital age, 94% of boys and 86% of girls still play outdoors or indoors at least once a week in their free time. According to the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) in the MIKE study (Media, Interaction, Children, Parents), playing and doing sports are still "the favorite leisure activities" of primary school pupils.
Digital and classic on the move
The ZHAW investigated the media usage behavior of primary school pupils last year: 1128 children aged between six and 13 and over 600 parents in the three major language regions were surveyed.
According to the survey, the generation of six to 13-year-olds is active in both digital and traditional media. Despite digitalization, the latter are still used most frequently: More than three quarters of children watch TV, listen to music or read books at least once a week.
Two thirds with cell phone
However, almost every second primary school child (48%) now has their own cell phone, two thirds of ten to eleven-year-olds and four fifths of twelve to 13-year-olds.
The proportion is even higher among single children and children with a migration background, the report continues. Children mainly use their cell phones to play games, watch online videos, listen to music and exchange messages. YouTube is their favorite app, ahead of Whatsapp, Instagram and Snapchat, according to the report.
Whatsapp in particular has been used much more frequently since the last MIKE study: 55% of middle school children communicate at least once a week via the messaging app. In addition, two-thirds of all children game at least once a week, 34% almost daily.
Associated with risks
According to the study, this behavior poses certain risks. One in three children use their cell phones at least once a week when they should be sleeping. Another worrying finding is that one in ten middle school children have been harassed online at least once.
In addition, one in 20 children has a TV set in their room - and one in five foreign children. Rules are therefore needed to prevent negative effects on children's well-being. The Youth and Media Platform of the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO), which co-financed the study, even recommends completely eliminating screens in children's bedrooms.
Role model role of parents
Basically, the role of parents is crucial. According to the study, they are both critical and optimistic about digital media: They see media as an easily accessible and important source of information that can promote their children's education.
At the same time, however, they are aware that there are certain risks involved, especially with games and social networks. For example, many parents set rules on the duration of use and are aware of the age recommendations for films. The study recommends that parents pay even more attention to content. After all, their "media behavior influences children's media use".
The study was conducted by the ZHAW's Media Psychology department and financially supported by the FSIO and the Jacobs Foundation. It was only the second time such a study had been conducted since 2015. (SDA)
Photo: benscherjon/Pixabay
