Surprise ! Under-13s go less on social media

A new study shows that the use of social networks by those under 13 is seeing a significant decline.

The issue of young people on the internet has worried governments for several years, whether because of the excessive accessibility of pornographic content, or the harmful effects of social networks. With this idea, a numerical majority was decided, in order to prevent those under 15 from registering without parental authorization. But if we are to believe this latest study, young people are moving away from these platforms on their own.

A sharp drop in attendance

Who would have believed it ? Under 13s go less on social networks. This is what the study by the Heaven agency shows, whose 2023 barometer on the use of social networks by young people aged 11 and 12 in France was very surprising.

Indeed, according to the latter, the targeted population used the large platforms much less than the previous year. Last year, 87% of them used these networks, compared to 71% in 2023, a drop of 16 points in one year! For Heaven, this result would be due both to greater awareness on the part of parents and to more sustained action by social networks in banning the youngest.

TikTok, first victim!

And proof that the question of the relationship of the youngest to digital has evolved, Heaven indicates that 11 and 12 year olds are 80% equipped with smartphones, compared to 85% in 2022. And even among children, awareness of the dangers social networks are starting to show up. 27% find that they spend too much time on social networks.

Among the big losers of this good news, we find TikTok, whose use among this audience fell by 21% in one year, followed closely by Snapchat with a decline of 20%. Among the platforms that are resisting, YouTube is in first place, its penetration rate of this demographic being 60.5%. The messaging application WhatsApp occupies second place, with a penetration rate of 43%.

Source : The echoes