How are kids in Brazil and Mexico using technology today?

Our recent study, The World According to Kids, addressed this question in its survey of almost 6,000 kids aged 6 to 11 across 18 countries, including Brazil and Mexico.

Here’s some of what we learned:

Kids in Brazil and Mexico have more access to devices than their global peers. On average, kids in both countries own 2.3 devices, compared with 1.8 devices among kids globally. Kids in both countries are significantly more likely to own several devices – smartphones, game consoles, smart TVs, computers, and streaming devices. Mexican kids are also more likely than their global peers to own smart speakers and tablets.

They mainly use smartphones for gaming, video calls, and chat. For kids 6 to 9 in Brazil and Mexico, gaming, watching video clips, and video calls are the most common smartphone activities. Kids 10 to 12 in both countries primarily use their smartphones for chat, followed by video calls and gaming.

Brazilian and Mexican kids are much more likely to use social media than kids globally. 9 out of 10 kids in both countries are social media users, compared with a global average of 60%. Penetration has grown substantially since 2018, when 65% of kids in Brazil and 42% of kids in Mexico were reported to be social media users. Brazilian 6- to 11-year-olds are much more likely than kids globally to use TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Twitch; Mexican kids in that age range are more likely to be TikTok, Facebook, and Twitch users.

On social media, kids mainly watch videos, but they also view others’ posts and create their own. Brazilian and Mexican kids are more likely than kids globally to do all of these, with around 8 in 10 watching videos (vs. 64% globally) and 4 in 10 looking at others’ posts (vs. 33% globally). Brazilian kids (32%) are more likely than kids in Mexico (17%) or globally (18%) to post their own updates.

Kids in both countries are more likely than kids globally to follow brands and a wide range of people on social media. Those in Mexico (40%) are more likely than kids in Brazil (36%) and globally (28%) to follow brands. Brazilian and Mexican kids alike are substantially more likely than their global peers to follow friends, family, influencers, and gamers.

Brazilian kids especially love to share and connect on social media. 60% of kids in Brazil say they love to share all their experiences on social media and 64% believe that having a lot of connections makes them look good – much higher than among Mexican kids, at 48% and 37%, respectively, as well as kids globally, at 47% and 51%. However, kids in both countries are more likely than their global peers to worry that pictures or stories about them on social media could cause problems in the future (68% Brazil, 54% Mexico, 49% global).

Most kids in both countries are gamers. In both countries, more than 90% of boys 6 to 9 and 10 to 12 play video games, as well as slightly less than 90% of girls in those age ranges. Roblox and Minecraft are favorite games among kids 6 to 9 in both countries. Among kids 10 to 12 in Brazil and Mexico, Free Fire is favored by boys and Roblox is #1 among girls. When it comes to e-sports, the favorites for both age groups are FIFA and Fortnite.