Publics in 11 emerging economies express widespread concerns about the impact of digital technology on children % of adults who say people should be about children being exposed to harmful or immoral content when using their mobile phones bad influence on children in their country % of parents whose children have a mobile phone who
While on balance people in these nations express largely positive judgments about the personal and societal impact of technologies, they also express significant concerns over the effects mobile phones and online connectivity might have on young people. Worries that mobile phones might expose children to immoral or harmful content are a key flashpoint in these fears. A median of 79% of adults in these 11 countries – and majorities in all countries surveyed – say people should be very concerned about this. More broadly, a median of 54% say the increasing use of the internet has had a bad influence on children in their country, and a median of 63% say the same about mobile phones.
Coupled with these concerns, many parents say they try to be vigilant about what their children are doing and seeing on their phones.3 Among parents whose children have mobile phones, a median of 50% say they monitor what their children do on their mobile devices. Parents who are themselves smartphone or social media users are more likely than non-users to monitor their child’s phone in this way. Along with monitoring their children’s activities on their mobile devices, a median of 52% of parents whose children have mobile phones have tried to limit the time their children spend with their phones.
Publics in 11 emerging economies  | express widespread concerns about the  | impact of digital technology on children  | % of adults who say people should be  | about children  | being exposed to harmful or immoral content when  | using their mobile phones  | Somewhat  | Very concerned  | concerned  | 79%  | 14%  | % ofadults who say the increasing use of  | has had a  | bad influence on children in their country  | Mobile phones  | 63%  | The internet  | 54  | % of parents whose children have a mobile phone who  | say they ever  | Limit how much time their  | 52%  | child spends on their phone  | Monitor what their child is  | 50  | looking at or doing on their  | mobile phone  | In the survey, questions about parents and children were asked of  | all respondents. The results reported here were recalculated to  | exclude those who volunteered that they do not have any children  | and/or that their child or children do not have a mobile phone  | Note: Percentages are 11-country medians  | Source: Mobile Technology and Its Social Impact Survey 2018  | Q14Ai, Q14Bi, Q19f Q25b & Q26b  | Mobile Connectivity in Emerging Economies  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 