A smartphone in hand from the age of 11, internet access before the age of four and a growing presence on social networks: the fourth edition of the “” report, published by Bee Secure on Tuesday 11 February 2025 to mark Safer Internet Day, highlights the increasingly early immersion of young Luxembourgers in the digital world. This trend is accompanied by serious concerns about the risks involved.

According to the survey, carried out between June and July 2024 amongst 916 young people aged between 12 and 30, the first contact with connected devices is happening at an increasingly early age. For example, 42% of children discover the internet before the age of four, compared with 35% in 2023. By the age of ten, 85% of youngsters have already been online.

Access to smartphones is following the same trajectory: on average, a child receives his or her first personal phone at the age of 11. In 2024, 90% of young people had one by the age of 12, compared with 79% in 2022. At the same time, on average, children start using social networks at the same age, although 61% of parents say that their children do not yet have an account on these platforms.

Prolonged and intensive use

The results of the study also reveal an explosion in the amount of time spent on screens. Young people aged between 17 and 30 spend an average of 314 minutes a day on their smartphone during the week (not including weekend days), the equivalent of around three football matches and an extra half-time. Among 12- to 16-year-olds, this figure rises to 248 minutes (4 hours and 8 minutes). Teachers and parents report 222 minutes and 167 minutes of daily use respectively.

The majority of young people themselves consider their use to be excessive: 54% of 12-16 year-olds and 79% of 17-30 year-olds believe that they--or young people in general--spend too much time on their smartphone. This view is shared by 90% of teachers.

In terms of preferences, Whatsapp (88%), Youtube (87%) and Snapchat (82%) dominate the usage of 12-16 year-olds. Among 17-30 year-old respondents, Whatsapp (95%) remains in the lead, followed by Instagram (94%).

Questionnaires carried out among 14,000 pupils aged between 8 and 18 during Bee Secure awareness training courses confirm these trends: Snapchat, Whatsapp and Instagram are among the most popular applications. At primary level, Whatsapp (53%) is ahead of Snapchat (37%) and Tiktok (22%). In secondary education, on the other hand, Whatsapp (67%) is behind Snap (74%).

Dangers of digital technology

While screens have become indispensable, their dangers are worrying parents, teachers and young adults. The main concerns include excessive screen time, misinformation, exposure to inappropriate content, protection of personal data, the influence of online role models (influencers), cybercrime and cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a reality for almost 44% of young people aged between 12 and 30.

Another area of concern is the practice of making money online. According to the survey, 12% of teenagers aged between 12 and 17 have already invested money in online trading, an activity that is prohibited for minors. Among 18-30 year-olds, 23% say they have tried their hand at the practice. Bee Secure also observes a similar trend for other forms of investment or gambling, particularly sports betting.

Consumption of adult content is also a reality. The survey reveals that 58% of 12-17 year-olds and 79% of 18-30 year-olds believe that their peers access such content at least “sometimes.” Almost one-third (31%) of parents with children aged between 12 and 16 believe that their children have already been exposed to it.

Artificial intelligence, seen as an opportunity, a danger or a combination of the two, remains a subject of curiosity. Between 89% and 99% of participants claim to have at least some knowledge of it. However, it is young people who seem to be the most at ease with this technology: 3% of parents compared with 17% of 12-16 year-olds consider themselves to be ‘experts’ on the subject.

“It is essential to bear in mind that the data presented in this document must be interpreted with caution, taking into account the various contexts in which it was collected,” Bee Secure nevertheless points out, before concluding: “The survey results are not representative of Luxembourg as a whole, but they do indicate certain trends concerning the different age groups of children and young people.”

In addition to the survey of 916 young people aged 12 to 30 (87 respondents aged 12 to 16 and 829 respondents aged 17 to 30) and the 14,000 completed questionnaires, Bee Secure also drew on a study of 541 parents--281 of whom had children aged 3 to 11 and 260 children aged 12 to 16--as well as the testimonies of 477 members of educational staff.

This article was originally published in .