BUCHAREST, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Romanian children receive their first smartphone at an average age of eight, with many spending between one and three hours online daily, according to a study published Tuesday by Google Romania.

The research, conducted by market research firm Topline as part of the "EU Family Safety Survey 2024," surveyed 570 Romanian parents between August and September 2024. The findings reveal that nearly half of parents give their children a smartphone between the ages of five and eight, while more than a third do so when their children are between the ages of nine and 12.

The primary reason parents cite for introducing smartphones at an early age is maintaining constant communication with their children. Additionally, a significant number admit that they do not want their children to feel socially excluded.

As digital exposure increases, so do concerns about online safety. Most children between five and 12 spend between one and three hours online daily, while teenagers typically exceed three hours.

Young children mainly use smartphones to access educational apps and video games, while social media is popular among children over the age of nine. However, parental control over online activity decreases as children grow older. Enditem

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