Statistics · checked October 2026
Children's Device Ownership Statistics (2026)
What age children get their first tablet, phone, console and smart speaker, how far each of those ages has fallen, and what the figures do and do not measure.
Children in high-income countries typically use a tablet regularly from around age two to three, get a device of their own at around eight to nine, and receive a first phone at around eleven to twelve.
| Statistic | Figure | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First regular tablet use | Age 2–3 | 2025 | Common Sense Media |
| First own device (tablet) | Age 8–9 | 2025 | Ofcom |
| First smartphone | Age 11–12 | 2025 | Ofcom |
| First social media account | Age 11–13 (platform minimum 13) | 2025 | Ofcom |
| First games console | Age 5–7 | 2025 | National surveys |
| First smartwatch | Age 7–10 | 2025 | National surveys |
| Share of 8–11 year olds with their own tablet | Majority in high-income countries | 2025 | Ofcom |
| Share of 12 year olds with a smartphone | Large majority in high-income countries | 2025 | Ofcom |
| Internet use, world average | ~68% | 2025 | ITU |
| Internet use, lowest profiled (Afghanistan) | ~18% | 2025 | ITU |
The number that changes everything else
Device ownership, not age, is what moves screen time. The jump in recorded hours between ages 8 and 11 lines up almost exactly with the shift from a shared family device to a personal one.
All of these figures describe high-income countries. In countries below about 50% internet penetration they describe a minority of children, which is why the connectivity row is on this page.
Frequently asked
What age do kids get their first phone?
Around eleven to twelve on average in high-income countries, though readiness tracks behaviour far better than age.
What age do children start using tablets?
Regular use typically begins around two to three years old, usually on a shared family device.
Do all children have devices?
No. These figures describe high-income countries. Global internet use is about 68%, and under 20% in the lowest countries profiled here.
AlphaBetaMinds (2026). Children's Device Ownership Statistics. Retrieved from https://alphabetaminds.com/statistics/childrens-device-ownership