Digital media use in 0-5 year-old children in Switzerland

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize digital media (DM) use in Swiss children aged 0 to 5 years, focusing on child access to different types of digital devices, duration of use, as well as the content and context of screen use. A sample of 4’173 parents living in Switzerland with at least one child aged 0 to 5 years (M = 38.4 months, SD = 17.2 months) completed a cross-sectional online survey between February 2023 and May 2024. To reach a socio-economically diverse sample, we also collaborated with family support organizations and a panel platform. The survey encompassed demographics, accessibility of DM devices, duration of DM activities, content characteristics, and contextual circumstances of DM use. Results suggest that on average, children aged 0 to 5 spent 71.5 (SD = 75.7) minutes daily with DM, with higher use reported as the child gets older. Approximately half of the duration of DM use consisted of non-screen-based activities, such as listening to audio. Regarding the type of devices, handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets were most dominant, while TV use was comparably limited. Parents reported prioritizing age-appropriate and entertaining content, with common motivations for child screen use including educational purposes, having time for oneself or other tasks, and calming the child. Findings allow to compare DM use of young children in Switzerland relative to results from other countries, highlighting that DM use by young children in Switzerland generally follows official recommendations.