Internet: Streaming is kids' favorite hobby
Half of Swiss children under 14 use the Internet, and every fourth child surfs daily. As part of the "NET-Metrix-Base Trend" study, the Internet usage of 0- to 13-year-olds in Switzerland was examined.
As part of an online survey, around 4,000 people provided information on how the children in their household use the Internet. Data was collected on around 1,500 children.
The older, the more intensively online
Not surprisingly, teenagers are more active on the web than toddlers. While 91 percent of 10- to 13-year-olds are online, 15 percent of 0- to 4-year-olds are as well. Among kindergarten and primary school children (5- to 9-year-olds), 53 percent surf the Internet at least occasionally.
Every fourth child surfs daily or almost daily. But the proportion of frequent Internet users also increases with age: while only 10 percent of children up to age 8 surf the Internet daily, 39 percent of children aged 9 to 11 and 73 percent of young people aged 12 to 13 are daily Internet users.
Streaming, search engine usage and games
Streaming is the preferred activity online: 67 percent of young Internet users watch videos on the Web (for example, on YouTube), watch TV online or listen to music online.
52 percent of Web kids research information in search engines. Among 10- to 13-year-olds in particular, using search engines is their main activity on the Internet (78 percent). Online games round out the top 3: Half of young Internet users like to play games on the Net.
Tablet remains most popular
While adults prefer the smartphone, the tablet remains the most popular device among children: It is used by 54 percent of young Internet users to surf the Web. Smartphones are mainly used by older children: 70 percent of children who use a smartphone are at least 10 years old.
The NET Metrix Base provides basic data on the number and structure of Internet users. It includes sociodemographic characteristics, information on Internet user groups, locations and frequency of Internet use, and use of various types of offerings on the Internet, etc. Since 2013, trend stuein with variables on the use of mobile devices, streaming offers, social media, online shopping and online gaming have been collected.
For the study, around 19,000 online and telephone interviews are conducted annually in private households in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
