Each fourth preschooler owns a digital device

Children and the young start using digital technologies at an increasingly early age, as shown by a survey carried out by the UNICEF, which was presented in Nis. Most children are first introduced to a digital device when they are four.

The survey has shown that a third of the parents are not familiar enough with digital devices in order to be able to protect children from potential misuse.

– Although a representative sample was used, the trends and the results of previous surveys show that children use digital devices at an increasingly early age, in Serbia and in the world – the survey says.

Each fourth preschooler and over half the children of a school age already own a digital device, says Dobrinka Kuzmanovic of the Institute for Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade.

– Attempts to limit the time spent online cause conflicts with children for two thirds of the parents, whereas one third clash with their children due to limiting the content available online – Dobrinka Kuzmanovic pointed out.

Experts recommend that children under two should not spend time in front of TV screens, computers, tablets and smartphones.

– When it comes to preschool children, the time spent in front of a screen should be limited to one hour. It is important for children of this age to use digital technologies through play, with support of adults, parents and teachers. The recommendation for children over five is for parents to establish clear rules and limitations when it comes to the use of technological devices – says the UNICEF announcement.

The survey was carried out within the Family Online Safety project, which the UNICEF is carrying out with the support of Telenor, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the Uzice Center for Children's Rights.

UNICEF Serbia

Ministarstvo prosvete Republike Srbije

Yettel d.o.o. Beograd

use of digital technology by children

Dobrinka Kuzmanovic

Institute for Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade

Family Online Safety project

Uzice Center for Childrens Rights

survey on use of digital technologies by children