Students in 14-16 age group more hooked to smartphones & social media, reveals national study
Srinagar, Feb 3: The latest survey on School Education Sector of Jammu and Kashmir has pointed out that the students in the age group of 14 to 16 years, have more access to the smart phones and social media.
The survey has depicted the access more than that of a national average.
The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 released earlier has revealed that 64 percent of the school children in the said age group use the smartphone for education purposes while the national average in this category was only 57 percent. The study has been done jointly on the students enrolled in government as well as private schools.
The survey findings have revealed that the students are becoming more inclined towards smart phones while their access to social media is increasing as well.
The survey findings have revealed that 79 percent children in J&K between the age group of 14 to 16 years use their smartphone while the national average is only 76.
While testing the knowledge level of kids about social media, the survey findings have revealed that 73.8 percent of kids have the knowledge to block or report a profile on social media while the national average in this category is only 62 percent.
"71.5 percent of children in J&K schools can make a profile on social media while the average on national level is only 55.2. Also, 75.4 children can change the password of a social media account while the national average is only 57.7 percent," the ASER 2024 has revealed.
Contrary to previous years when digital divide was witnessed in rural districts, the ASER-2024 has pointed out that 93.7 percent kids have a smart phone at home out of which 83.0 percent can use it as well. The national average is only 89.1 and 82.2.
The door to door survey conducted by the people associated with the ASER 2024 has revealed that 48.5 percent of kids in the age group of 14 to 16 years have their own smart phone at home while the national average is only 31.4 percent. “72 percent of kids brought the phone to do tasks during the survey," ASER 2024 has revealed.
Not only this, but 72.4 percent of children in the age group of 14 to 16 years have performed well while performing a digital task given to them. "The tasks included searching any information on Google and sharing it with friends on other digital platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram," the survey reads.
Experts believe that the access for children to smartphones and social media increased post Covid-19 during which the schools and colleges switched to e-mode.
"Not only this, but these days the schools and colleges also share online lectures. If a teacher delivers a lecture in one school or college, the students of other educational institutions are given access to the same lecture. This is one of the major reasons why the access of students to smart phones has increased significantly," a senior school teacher said.