TOKYOApril 24 (News On Japan) – A recent survey conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government shows that smartphone ownership among school-aged children is high: 43% of upper primary school students and about 85% of middle school students reportedly have their own devices.
The findings were published on April 23 and include the results of a survey conducted in January this year.
The study focused on 2,000 parents of elementary, middle, and high school students living in Tokyo, and found that 27.2% of lower elementary students, 43.0% of upper elementary students, 84.8% of middle school students and 92.0% of high school students own smartphones.
Of these students, 19% admitted to interacting with strangers through social networks and other platforms. Additionally, 20.3% reported that they had sent or received photos or videos of themselves, and 14.2% had met someone they encountered online, both figures showing a significant increase from the previous year.
The use of filtering services to block inappropriate websites remains inadequate: 41.7% of respondents have not subscribed to or set up such services. In light of these findings, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is urging families to establish clear rules for safe smartphone use by children, with the aim of limiting the risks associated with online interactions.
Source: TBS
