Education Accounts for Just 1 Percent of Children’s Online Time
A new report presented in the Sejm on June 15 reveals that children spend only one percent of their total internet time on education, with social media and entertainment dominating their daily...
A new report presented in the Sejm on June 15 reveals that children spend only one percent of their total internet time on education, with social media and entertainment dominating their daily habits.
Table Of Content
The Reality of Children’s Digital Habits
The “Children’s Internet 2026” report, produced by the Digital Citizenship Institute, Polish Internet Research, Gemius, and the State Commission on Pedophilia, highlights that children’s online time is primarily consumed by social media, video platforms, and messengers. The study is based on behavioral data rather than self-reported surveys.
While 69 percent of children aged 7–14 visit educational sites, they spend an average of only six minutes per day there. For many parents, it remains difficult to distinguish between homework and algorithmic entertainment, as devices are frequently used for both purposes.
Social Media Dominance and Regulatory Gaps
Social media accounts for 40 percent of total online time for children aged 7–14, with TikTok and YouTube being the most prominent platforms. Despite age restrictions, 55 percent of children aged 7–12 regularly use social media or messaging services, representing approximately one million active users.
Pornographic content remains a significant concern, with 32 percent of children aged 7–14 having encountered such material online. Experts argue that current protections are insufficient and call for stricter age verification and algorithmic oversight by digital platforms.
AI Adoption and Daily Usage Patterns
ChatGPT has been used by 43 percent of children aged 7–14, marking a rapid integration of AI into their daily lives. While not inherently seen as a threat, the speed of technological development in this area is currently outpacing legislative safeguards.
Children’s digital activity begins early, with over half starting their day on a smartphone between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. On average, children spend 4 hours and 25 minutes online daily. Furthermore, the report notes that 1.2 million children have been exposed to alcohol advertisements, suggesting that existing regulations against targeting minors are failing in the digital space.