Time Australian children spend on TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram has almost doubled since 2020: Qustodio study

Sydney, Australia — Australian kids are spending more time on popular social media and communications platforms TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat than ever before, according to a new report from world-leading online safety company Qustodio.  

The comprehensive annual report, titled “The Digital Dilemma: Childhood At a Crossroads”, is based on device data collected from over 400,000 family homes in five major world markets: the US, UK, France, Spain, and Australia; along with 10,000 schools in the US, UK, and Australia. In addition to revealing the apps most favoured by children between the ages 4-18, and the screen time spent on them, the report includes insights from over 2,000 parents who shared the challenges they faced during a transformative year defined by growing resistance to children's use of devices and social media. 

“Kids can’t legally drive, consume alcohol or smoke—but the online world is harder to police,” said Yasmin London, Global Online Safety Expert for Qoria, the parent company of Qustodio. “Many countries are looking to restrict or – like the Australian Government has declared – ban access to certain online platforms in an effort to help families safeguard their children. But virtual private networks (VPNs) are just one easily-accessible way some savvy kids could use to circumvent any bans being put in place. 

“It’s important that families, educators and policymakers are aware of the dangers as kids navigate the digital world, the risks specific to their favourite applications, what their future with technology may look like, and expert advice to help ensure their safety as they explore.” 

Social media screen time increasing

The report found that year on year, the time children are spending online in Australia is increasing. TikTok is the most used application by kids across the country, with children spending an average of 117 minutes per day on the platform. This is almost double the average time spent on the app in 2020, when kids spent an average of 64 minutes on the platform. Instagram was the second most popular app, with an average of 71 minutes per day, up from 35 minutes per day in 2020. 

London says that while we mustn’t dismiss the positive aspects of social media for kids – as an avenue to express themselves, form relationships and find communities – it’s clear that a balance must be struck to help shield them from inappropriate content and to manage mental health. 

“To keep social media use healthy, it’s important to ensure you have clear family expectations and supervision of their access and use from the get-go,” explains London. “Speaking to your child about the harms and risks associated with social media, as well as the benefits, should be part of an ongoing conversation that makes them aware of the risks the digital world poses—before they experience it for themselves. 

“Before a child dives into any new app, learn about it yourself first, set rules and expectations, implement the inbuilt privacy and security settings, and check in on them regularly to help them see you care, without overstepping boundaries and privacy limits.”

Interestingly, the report found that 27 per cent of parents across the globe believe that 16 is the right age for children to start using social media, with the next largest group believing teens should hold off until adulthood: 18 per cent of parents consider 18 to be the appropriate age for children to use social platforms. This aligns with the guidelines of the Australian Government’s social media ban for children under the age of 16. 

Snapchat increasing as communications tool of choice for children in Australia

In 2024, kids worldwide averaged 37 minutes daily on their favourite communication apps, two minutes less than the previous year. While WhatsApp remained the most widely-used communication app, Snapchat users were the most active—with kids globally spending 78 minutes per day snapping their friends and families.

In Australia, that number jumps to 88 minutes per day spent on the app. The amount of time spent on Snapchat, which allows users to send photos, videos and messages that disappear after being used, has steadily increased in the last four years. Children are spending significantly less time on other communication platforms with an average of 26 minutes per day on Discord, nine minutes per day on WhatsApp and eight minutes per day on Messenger Kids. 

“Snapchat has time-devouring features commonly found on social media apps—such as Stories and Discover content,” said London. “But the disappearing aspect of the communication tool can open up risks to cyberbullying and explicit content. Parents should be aware of the risks and be willing to maintain an open dialogue with their children, and look for signs of bullying, such as mood changes.”

Time spent on gaming applications is decreasing in Australia… with one exception

Roblox continues to be the most popular gaming app in 2024, however the time spent on the app has seen a slight decrease since 2022. This year, children spent an average of 137 minutes per day playing Roblox, down from 177 minutes per day in 2022. Although this is a good sign, the app is still being used more than in 2020, which averaged at 118 minutes per day.

Roblox is a platform that allows users to create, share and play games created by other users. It’s a unique cross-over between social media, gaming and creative expression. However, it doesn’t come without potential risks: the user-generated content can expose players to inappropriate content, and the social aspect can bring risks of cyberbullying, scamming or exploitation of younger players, according to London

“Gaming can be a great way for kids to let off steam and develop skills such as problem-solving and teamwork, but online features on gaming apps can often be a source of conflict, nastiness, or even abuse,” said London. “If your child comes up against hurtful and mean behaviour as they play, make sure they know how to report it, and who they should talk to about their experience.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Roblox was the most blocked gaming app worldwide, likely as a natural reaction to the time kids ploughed into the game creation platform—but it might not be just excess screen time that prompted parents to prohibit the app.

Interestingly, Roblox is the only gaming app that has seen a significant increase in time spent on the platform in 2024 compared to 2020. Other popular gaming apps, such as Subway Surfers, Minecraft, Brawl Stars and Clash Royale have all seen a decrease in average time spent on the app in 2024 compared to 2020.  

The most significant decrease in time spent on the app was Minecraft, which saw a drop from an average of 69 minutes per day in 2020 to 29 minutes per day in 2024. 

“Overall, there seems to be a trend toward children either spending less or around the same amount of time on gaming apps as in previous years, which is positive. The outlier is Roblox, where the game’s popularity seems to be increasing,” says London. “Yet kids will always want to play games online, and one way parents can help navigate the risks is through co-playing with their children so they can observe first hand and understand what they’re engaging with and any risks they may face.” 

Parents proactive in monitoring or blocking platforms, while also communicating risks

This usage data shows that children have accelerated their use of social media and communication applications. However, the report also found that parents aren’t waiting for the recently-announced social media ban for children to be implemented, with many already blocking their children from using popular apps. The most commonly blocked apps include the likes of TikTok, Snapchat, X, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook and Pinterest. When choosing to monitor their kids’ devices, parents reported to be most concerned about children being exposed to sexual content, content related to suicide, alcohol or drug use and dangerous challenges. 

“The usage data in this report highlights that despite growing concern over social media, children are continuing to increase time spent on these platforms. Interestingly, our children are spending more time online now than they were in the midst of COVID-19 lockdowns,” said London. “However, it’s good to see that some adults are a step ahead of government restrictions, already monitoring and blocking the use of some applications that are inappropriate for their children.”

Yet by far the most popular way parents contribute to their children’s digital wellbeing is through dialogue: 80 per cent of parents globally hold regular conversations about their children’s technology use and the inherent risks. This is the leading method parents use (aside from parental controls) to keep children safe when using devices, ahead of taking devices away from kids during specific time periods (76 per cent) and scheduling tech-free times into the week/weekend (53 per cent). 

With regards to the dialogue parents have with their kids, 54 per cent regularly talk to their children about online safety without being prompted by a safety concern, while 2 in 5 parents talk to their child about online safety when they uncover something concerning in their child’s digital activities. 

Report Methodology

Since 2019, Qustodio’s research has investigated and documented children’s digital habits in order to better understand their online experience. The digital dilemma reveals young people’s online app habits on mobile devices and desktop devices, from January 1, 2024, to December 2024, compared with information from the same period from 2020 to 2023.

To learn more about the report and findings, please download the full Digital Dilemma: Childhood at a Crossroads report here.

About Qustodio

Qustodio is the world leader in online safety and digital wellbeing for families. Since 2012, we have provided a cross-platform solution for families and schools, helping over 7 million families protect children from online harm, while promoting healthy digital habits and awareness. Available in over 180 countries in 8 languages, our digital wellbeing tools help families and schools live and navigate smarter in an increasingly connected world. In 2022, Qustodio became part of the Qoria group, protecting every child's digital journey through a world-class collaboration between schools, parents, and educators in cyber safety.