Parents are more concerned about their children’s mobile device usage than their own, according to a Common Sense Media|SurveyMonkey poll. Nearly half (47 percent) of parents feel that their child is “addicted” to their mobile devices, 15 percentage points higher than those who said the same about themselves. Nearly one in five parents (18 percent) say they are “extremely” or “very concerned” that their child’s mobile device usage is negatively affecting his or her mental health.
According to their parents, most children under 18 have access to a mobile device: 60 percent have their own device and 14 percent share a mobile device with someone else, while just 24 percent do not use a mobile device. The likelihood of owning their own mobile device increases with the child’s age, as just 23 percent of those age 0-5 own their own device, while 54 percent of those 6-12 and 88
percent of those 13-17 do. Just four percent of teens don’t use a mobile device.
YouTube is especially prevalent among kids and teenagers. Just 18 percent of parents say their child does not watch videos on YouTube, while 44 percent say their child watches videos on the YouTube website, 37 percent say their child uses the YouTube app, and 24 percent say their child uses the YouTube Kids app. Younger children are less likely than older children or teens to watch videos on YouTube: 44 percent of parents whose oldest child is 0-5 say their child does not use YouTube at all, while just 9 percent of parents of teens say the same.
Most parents (69 percent) say they are extremely or very aware of what their child watches on YouTube, and while few (7 percent) think that YouTube is a “very safe” place for their child, a majority think it is “somewhat safe” (58 percent).
A large majority (81 percent) see it as their job to prevent kids from seeing inappropriate videos. Only 10 percent believe that responsibility rests with YouTube. Nearly four in 10 parents (37 percent) have not used YouTube's parental controls, and another 22 percent didn't know YouTube offers parental controls.
For more detailed results, click through the interactive toplines below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Question text:
Do you feel like you are addicted to your mobile devices?
To the best of your knowledge, does your child have access to a mobile device, that is a smartphone or tablet that can connect to the internet?
(Among parents whose children use a mobile device) Do you feel like your child is addicted to their mobile devices?
(Among parents whose children use a mobile device) How concerned are you that your child’s mobile device use is negatively affecting his or her mental health?
(Among parents whose children use a mobile device) Who is primarily responsible for limiting children’s time spent on mobile devices?
To the best of your knowledge, does your child watch videos on the YouTube website, the YouTube app, or the YouTube Kids app? (Select all that apply.)
(Among parents whose children watch videos on YouTube) How aware are you of what your child watches on YouTube?
(Among parents whose children watch videos on YouTube) Generally speaking, do you think that YouTube is a safe or unsafe place for your child?
(Among parents whose children watch videos on YouTube) To the best of your knowledge, how often does your child encounter inappropriate videos on YouTube?
(Among parents whose children watch videos on YouTube) Have you ever used the parental controls on the YouTube website or app?
Who is primarily responsible for preventing children from seeing inappropriate videos on YouTube?
How good a job does YouTube do at preventing children from seeing inappropriate content?
*teenagers *consumers
