Half of teens spend over 30 hours weekly on screens
Children are entering the digital world earlier than ever, while teenagers are spending dozens of hours online each week, according to a new OECD report that highlights the challenges and opportunities of growing up in the digital age.
Digital services provide valuable tools for learning, entertainment, exploration and social connection. Yet, they also carry serious risks—overuse, exposure to harmful content, online bullying, and safety concerns.
Children Fully Immersed in the Digital World
The report notes that in 2021, 93% of 10-year-olds had internet access—up from 85% just ten years earlier.
About 70% of them already owned a smartphone. By the age of 15, digital connectivity becomes nearly universal: 98% own smartphones and 96% have access to a computer or tablet at home.
In several countries, at least half of teenagers spend more than 30 hours per week on screens. In Latvia, for example, 43% of adolescents exceed 60 hours per week online.
Risks of Digital Overexposure
While digital technologies empower children with tools for creativity, education, and social interaction, excessive or inappropriate use can lead to reduced face-to-face interactions, sleep problems, sedentary lifestyles, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
The report highlights the issue of “problematic use,” where children struggle to manage their screen time—even when it disrupts daily life.
Girls, in particular, seem more vulnerable to the emotional and psychological impacts of overuse.
The effects vary based on how technology is used—passively or actively—as well as a child's family environment and personal traits, such as social integration difficulties or family stress.
Emerging Technologies and Future Challenges
Emerging tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) offer potential educational and health benefits but also present new risks: biased algorithms, loss of privacy, exposure to misinformation, and distorted perceptions of reality—especially in younger children.
To mitigate these risks, the OECD recommends safe-by-design technologies, usage limits, regular breaks, and active adult supervision.
A Call for Coordinated Action
The report calls for a society-wide response, urging collaboration between policymakers, tech providers, educators, health professionals, parents, and children themselves to build a safe and supportive digital environment.
Key recommendations include:
Developing child-focused regulations and safe technologies
Strengthening digital education in schools
Guiding parents on safe internet practices
Involving children in shaping digital policies based on their experiences
Finally, collecting quality data on children's digital habits—including screen time, content, and behavioral impacts—will be vital in shaping effective policies, particularly to support vulnerable children.
The digital world holds immense potential—if the right conditions are created to help children thrive both online and offline.
