The number of children and adolescents with internet access in Brazil recorded a slight increase in 2023, according to a survey released this week by TIC Kids Online Brasil.
According to the data, 95% of children and adolescents aged nine to 17 across the country access the web — more than 25.1 million in this age group. The survey also showed that there is still a portion of this group that has never been online: over 580,000 people, fewer than the 940,000 from last year.
In 2022, about 24.4 million children in this age group were connected to the internet — or 92% of the group. On the other hand, those who had never accessed the network totaled 940,000.
Of the respondents who said they had never been online in the current survey, more than 475,000 belong to classes D and E, highlighting the inequality in access. They also make up the majority of those who have browsed the web but not in the last three months.
The study, conducted by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society, linked to the Internet Management Committee in Brazil, also points out that in 24% of cases, the first access to the internet occurred before the age of six. In 2015, the first access happened later, usually at age 10 (16%). That year, only 11% of children were six years old or younger when they first accessed the internet.
Ways of Access
The main way children and adolescents access the internet is through their cell phones, mentioned by 97% of respondents. Cell phones are also the only means of internet access for 20% of them.
Access via television has skyrocketed in recent years, reaching 70% in 2023. In 2019, this type of access was mentioned by only 43% of users.
The use of computers for browsing the web, on the other hand, has remained stable at 38%, with a predominance among higher-income social classes (71%). In classes D and E, a mere 15% say they access the internet via computer.
A total of 2,704 children and adolescents aged 9–17 and 2,704 parents and guardians across Brazil were interviewed for the survey. The study was conducted between March and July of this year. TIC Kids Online Brasil has been conducted annually since 2012 and was only not carried out in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Source: Agência Brasil