A survey by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) released on Tuesday (16) revealed that 78% of internet users between the ages of 9 and 17 accessed some type of social network in 2021. In 2019, this rate was of 68%.
Last year, the most used platform was TikTok, by 34% of the group. In second place was Instagram, by 33%, and, in third, Facebook, by 11%.
The results also show that 93% of people in this group use the internet, which corresponds to 22.3 million people. The researchers point out that the greatest growth in this aspect occurred in the Northeast region and in rural areas, and that the cell phone was the main tool for this connection, being the only device used by 53% of those who answered the questions.
“In 2021, 11.9 million individuals in this age group lived in households with Internet, but without computers; and 2.1 million people were in households without a computer and without a network connection”, highlights the text.
The survey, named TIC Kids Online Brazil, was conducted by the Regional Center for Studies for the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) of the Information and Coordination Center of Ponto BR (NIC.br).
Social networks
WhatsApp is the platform where people in this age group have the most profiles, and it recorded an increase of 10 percentage points in this aspect between 2018 and 2021 — from 70 to 80% of the group. In addition, it is the most widespread among all social classes.
Instagram also recorded a growth of 17 percentage points in the period – from 45% to 62% –, being the second app with the most profiles. TikTok comes next with 58% affirmative responses. This was the first edition of the survey in which the video app was also surveyed.
In the same three-year period, Facebook recorded a 66% to 51% drop in the presence of these people on the network, as did Snapchat, from 23% to 12%.
Twitter had a small increase, from 16% of people with profiles on the network in 2018 to 17% in 2021.
Platforms with the most profiles in 2021*
*in the public between 9 and 17 years old
- WhatsApp – 80%
- Instagram – 62%
- TikTok – 58%
- Facebook – 51%
- Snapchat – 12%
searched content
The study also highlighted that the activities most performed by children and adolescents between 9 and 17 years old were listening to music and watching videos, programs, movies or series. Of this group, 66% claimed to have played online with other players.
“Platforms for creating and sharing audiovisual content are among the most used by children and teenagers”, points out Alexandre Barbosa, manager of Cetic.br.
Health and wellness
Another question asked in the survey was about the health, mental and emotional health of children and adolescents between 11 and 17 years old. According to the study, 32% of respondents said they had sought help to deal with something bad they had experienced, or to talk about their emotions when they felt sad.
The percentage of people in this group who sought support was higher among older people.
Information about food, medication, prevention and treatment of diseases, exercises and ways to get in shape were also subjects researched by these minors. Sexual health and sex education were also topics surveyed for 21% of the group.
“In addition to physical aspects, 29% of respondents had contact with information about feelings, emotional suffering, mental health and well-being, and 38% believe that the Internet helped them deal with a health problem”, highlights the text.
2,651 children and adolescents from all over Brazil were heard, as well as their parents and guardians. The interviews took place between October 2021 and March 2022.
Source: CNN Brasil
