In 2021, internet use among children was 82.7% and by 2024 this had increased to 91.3%. When looking at gender, 92.2% of boys and 90.3% of girls used the internet, compared to 83.9% and 81.5% respectively in 2021.
According to a statement from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), 97.4% of children who used the internet reported regular use, down slightly from 98.6% in 2021. It was found that 42.9% of children who regularly used the internet for around two hours or more online on weekdays, while on weekends this figure was 53.6%. When analyzed by age group, Internet use on weekdays for approximately two hours or more was 30.6% for the 6 to 10 age group and 54.4% for the 11 to 15 age group. During the weekend these percentages were 43.2% and 63.5% respectively.
When looking at the purposes of Internet use among children who regularly use the Internet, the most common activities are watching videos (83.9%), doing homework, learning or attending online classes (75.0%), and playing or downloading games (72.7%). The least common activity was sending or receiving emails, at only 13.2%.
In 2024, 66.1% of children used social media. It was found that 68.1% of boys and 64.0% of girls used social media. By age group, social media use was 53.5% in the 6 to 10 age group and 79.0% in the 11 to 15 age group.
Of the children who used social media, 97.9% did so regularly. Of those who regularly used social media, 37.1% spent around two hours or more on social media on weekdays, while on weekends this figure was 49.5%. Children aged 11 to 15 were found to spend approximately 20 percentage points more time on social media compared to children aged 6 to 10.
YouTube was the most used social media platform among children, with 96.3% of them using it. It was followed by Instagram with 41.5%, TikTok with 26.2%, Snapchat with 21.4%, Pinterest with 13.6%, Facebook with 9.5% and X with 4.9%. When looking at the use of social media platforms by age group, YouTube was the most used in both groups. TikTok ranked second for the 6 to 10 age group at 11.7%, while Instagram ranked second for the 11 to 15 age group at 63.0%.
In 2024, 76.1% of children reported using a mobile phone or smartphone. When analyzed by age group, this figure was 66.3% for the 6 to 10 year age group and 86.2% for the 11 to 15 year age group.
Of the children who regularly used mobile phones or smartphones, 98.2% said they used their phones regularly. The most common uses were surfing the Internet 77.9%, making video or voice calls 77.3%, watching movies, series, TV shows or videos 75.0% and using social media 73.6%.
Of the children who regularly used a mobile phone/smartphone, 32.6% indicated that they checked their phone at least every half hour. This percentage was 33.9% for boys and 31.2% for girls. Among children who checked their phones every 30 minutes, this percentage was 19.6% in the age group 6 to 10 years and 42.8% in the age group 11 to 15 years.
Of children who regularly used a phone and checked it at least every 30 minutes, 3.4% said they checked their phone last before going to bed and first upon waking, and used it while watching TV or with others ate. The percentage of children showing at least one of these behaviors was 58.6%, compared to 52.4% in 2021.
The share of children who had at least one device, such as a computer (desktop/laptop/tablet), mobile phone/smartphone, smartwatch or game console, exclusively for their own use was 63.8% in 2024. For boys this was 66.9% and 60.5% for girls. When we look at age groups, the most striking difference is among children who had their own mobile phone/smartphone.
In 2024, the share of children who had their own mobile phone/smartphone was 43.9%. Those who had their own computer were 35.7% and those with their own smartwatch were 14.3%. In 2021, these figures were 39.0%, 46.3% and 3.9% respectively.
When children were asked about the effects of their screen time, including activities such as using computers, mobile phones/smartphones, the internet, social media, playing digital games and watching TV, 34.4% reported reading fewer books. This was followed by spending less time studying (33.3%), spending less time with family (25.5%), meeting and playing with friends face-to-face 18.6% and sleeping less 17.2% .
