On March 31, 2025, Japan’s Children and Families Agency published the FY2024 report of its national survey on the internet-use environment of children and adolescents. The survey covers young people aged 10–17 and their parents, as well as parents of children aged 0–9, examining internet use, time spent online, activities, household rules, and online-safety measures.

     The survey provides an important nationwide picture of how children use digital devices and online services. It examines not only whether children use the internet, but also how, why, and for how long they use it, together with parental rules, filtering, and digital-safety education.

Comment from GAME-F

Understanding children’s digital lives begins with knowing how they actually use the internet. National surveys such as this provide an essential foundation for tracking changes over time.

    However, usage rates and screen time alone cannot fully indicate whether digital use has become problematic. The same amount of time may have very different effects on sleep, learning, family relationships, and school life. The question should therefore move from “How many hours?” toward “How is everyday functioning affected?” This is also why GAME-F places particular emphasis on functional impairment.

References

Children and Families Agency — FY2024 Survey on the Internet-Use Environment of Children and Adolescents