Tablet computers have replaced the TV in the bedroom as the must-have gadget for children, with over one-third of those aged from five to 15 owning their own tablet, says Ofcom.

Studies from the UK’s media and telecoms regulator discovered that the proportion of children having their own tablet, instead of using a parent’s device, has increased from 19% in 2013 to 34% in 2014.

Over six in ten children use a tablet at home, up 50% on 2013, while the number of children with TV sets in their bedrooms has decreased by a third in five years.

Affordable alternative

Tablet use has expanded for all age groups over the last couple of years, as they have become an affordable alternative to a PC and can be bought for under £100 from major high street retailers and supermarkets.

Both Tesco, with its Hudl tablet, and Argos spotted the trend last year and released own brand tablets available for under £100. Tesco says it sold 750,000 Hudl tablets in the past year.

Research firm eMarketer expects there to be 24.6 million tablet users in the UK in 2014, where Apple’s iPad still dominates, making up 50% of UK tablet users.

The number of 5-15-year-olds using a tablet to go online has doubled to 42% in the past year, while PC use for internet access by children has decreased by 3% to 88%. PC sales have steadily decreased over the last three years, as tablets and other smart devices have grown in popularity.

Beyond internet access, tablets are being used by children for a range of different activities. Games are played on tablets by 30% of children, while 20% watch live TV on their tablets and 33% watch on-demand TV.

Social media, YouTube and filters

Social media also plays a large part in internet use for older children, with 71% of 12-15 years olds having a social media profile on Facebook, Twitter or another service. But in that age range, girls are more likely to have an Instagram, SnapChat or Tumblr account than boys.

YouTube attracts more boys than girls, however, who are more than twice as likely to use the Google video site.

Ofcom also found that 84% of parents directly supervise their children online and 82% have defined rules about the use and access of the internet by their kids. Over half of parents also use tools to manage their child’s internet use on tablets and PCs, including internet filters, password protection and anti-virus software.

Over three-quarters of parents currently feel they enough about the internet and how it works to help protect their children, but 43% feel that their kids know more about the internet than they do, rising to 62% for the 12-15 year olds.

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