Smartphone access is no longer the question for many students, with 97% of US teens aged 15 to 17 reporting smartphone ownership in 2023. The surprise is what comes after the device, like how a large share can use tools online yet still struggle with deeper skills such as fake news detection and advanced digital literacy. Let’s connect device ownership, learning platforms, and online wellbeing to see where students are thriving and where the gaps are showing.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 95% of U.S. teens ages 13-17 reported owning or having access to a smartphone
- 88% of U.S. high school students owned a laptop or desktop computer in 2022, compared to 59% in 2015
- Globally, 82% of students aged 13-15 owned a smartphone in 2021, with rates highest in Europe at 92%
- 72% of U.S. students could identify fake news online accurately in 2023
- Globally, only 39% of students had advanced digital skills per PISA 2022
- 84% of U.S. high schoolers used AI tools like ChatGPT for homework in 2023
- 76% of U.S. K-12 teachers used digital learning tools daily in 2023
- Globally, 92% of students used online platforms for learning during COVID-19 peak in 2021
- 85% of U.S. college students used LMS like Canvas or Blackboard weekly in 2023
- 46% of U.S. teens used smartphones almost constantly in 2023
- Globally, students aged 12-18 spent an average of 6.5 hours daily on the internet in 2022
- 89% of U.S. high school students used the internet daily for non-schoolwork in 2023
- 59% of U.S. teens reported negative mental health impact from social media in 2023
- Globally, 81% of students aged 13-17 used Instagram daily in 2022
- 63% of U.S. high school girls felt worse about body image due to Instagram in 2023
Most students now have smartphones and spend hours online, driving both new learning access and digital well-being concerns.
Related reading
01 · Category
Device Ownership30 stats
01
In 2023, 95% of U.S. teens ages 13-17 reported owning or having access to a smartphone
02
88% of U.S. high school students owned a laptop or desktop computer in 2022, compared to 59% in 2015
03
Globally, 82% of students aged 13-15 owned a smartphone in 2021, with rates highest in Europe at 92%
04
In 2022, 67% of low-income U.S. students had home access to a computer, versus 96% of high-income students
05
73% of U.K. secondary school pupils owned a tablet in 2023, up from 45% in 2018
06
In India, 62% of college students owned smartphones in 2022, primarily Android devices
07
91% of Australian high school students had personal laptops in 2021
08
Among U.S. college students, 85% owned gaming consoles in 2023
09
78% of Brazilian students aged 15-17 owned smartphones in 2022
10
In Canada, 94% of postsecondary students owned laptops in 2023
11
69% of South African high school students had access to tablets via school in 2022
12
U.S. elementary students' tablet ownership rose to 76% in 2023 from 42% in 2014
13
87% of German students aged 12-19 owned smartphones in 2021
14
In Japan, 81% of university students owned e-readers or tablets in 2022
15
54% of rural U.S. students lacked home computers in 2021
16
92% of French high schoolers owned laptops in 2023
17
Among Chinese college students, 98% owned smartphones in 2022
18
71% of Mexican secondary students had personal devices in 2021
19
In 2023, 89% of U.K. university students owned smartwatches
20
65% of Kenyan primary students accessed shared school laptops in 2022
21
U.S. teens' smartphone ownership reached 97% for ages 15-17 in 2023
22
83% of Italian students owned tablets in 2022
23
In 2021, 79% of Spanish college students had gaming PCs
24
96% of Singaporean secondary students owned laptops in 2023
25
Among Nigerian university students, 68% owned smartphones in 2022
26
84% of Swedish high school students had e-readers in 2021
27
In 2023, 75% of U.S. K-12 students had school-issued devices
28
90% of Dutch students aged 13-18 owned smartphones in 2022
29
77% of Argentine college students owned laptops in 2021
30
In 2022, 93% of South Korean high schoolers owned smartphones
Interpretation
Device Ownership Interpretation
The data paints a world where, for a connected global student, a smartphone is nearly a birthright, but the digital divide persists like a stubborn pop-up ad, reminding us that access is still an open-book test many are failing.
02 · Category
Digital Literacy and Skills26 stats
01
72% of U.S. students could identify fake news online accurately in 2023
02
Globally, only 39% of students had advanced digital skills per PISA 2022
03
84% of U.S. high schoolers used AI tools like ChatGPT for homework in 2023
04
U.K. pupils' digital literacy scores improved 15% from 2019-2023
05
In India, 48% of college students could code basic programs in 2022
06
Australian students rated data privacy knowledge at 67% proficiency in 2021
07
91% of U.S. college students verified sources before sharing online in 2023
08
Brazilian secondary students showed 55% improvement in digital skills post-2020
09
Canadian postsecondary students' cybersecurity awareness reached 79% in 2023
10
62% of South African students could create digital content independently in 2022
11
U.S. tweens demonstrated 51% media literacy in evaluating ads in 2022
12
German students' algorithmic literacy was 68% adequate in 2023
13
Japanese university students coded in 73% of STEM programs in 2022
14
French high schoolers' online safety skills scored 82% in national tests 2023
15
Chinese students' AI ethics understanding was 64% proficient in 2022
16
Mexican students improved digital navigation skills by 28% in 2021-2023
17
U.K. primary pupils used search engines effectively 75% of time in 2023
18
Kenyan university students' data analysis skills reached 59% in 2022
19
77% of U.S. teens understood deepfakes in 2023 surveys
20
Italian students' digital collaboration skills were 71% competent in 2022
21
Spanish college students showed 83% proficiency in cloud tools in 2021
22
Singaporean secondary students excelled in computational thinking at 88% in 2023
23
Nigerian students' basic ICT skills covered 54% of curriculum in 2022
24
Swedish high schoolers' critical thinking online scored 85% in 2021
25
Argentine students' programming literacy reached 49% in 2023
26
South Korean students demonstrated 92% digital problem-solving skills in PISA 2022
Interpretation
Digital Literacy and Skills Interpretation
The data paints a surprisingly sharp portrait of our digital-age students: they're remarkably savvy at spotting the wolves in sheep's clothing online, yet still largely untrained in how to shear the sheep and spin the wool themselves.
03 · Category
Educational Technology Use26 stats
01
76% of U.S. K-12 teachers used digital learning tools daily in 2023
02
Globally, 92% of students used online platforms for learning during COVID-19 peak in 2021
03
85% of U.S. college students used LMS like Canvas or Blackboard weekly in 2023
04
U.K. schools integrated edtech in 68% of lessons in 2022
05
In India, 55% of college students used apps like BYJU'S daily in 2023
06
Australian universities reported 89% student adoption of virtual classrooms in 2022
07
94% of U.S. high schoolers used Google Classroom or similar in 2023
08
Brazilian students used edtech platforms 4.2 hours weekly in 2022
09
Canadian K-12 students engaged in blended learning 72% of the time in 2023
10
61% of South African schools provided edtech access in 2022
11
U.S. elementary teachers used interactive whiteboards in 82% of classrooms in 2022
12
German universities had 91% VR/AR tool adoption for STEM in 2023
13
Japanese schools implemented AI tutors for 45% of students in 2022
14
78% of French students used MOOCs for supplemental learning in 2023
15
Chinese K-12 students used online tutoring 3.5 hours weekly in 2022
16
Mexican schools digitized 52% of textbooks in 2021
17
U.K. primary students used coding apps in 67% of schools in 2023
18
Kenyan universities adopted e-learning platforms for 83% of courses in 2022
19
88% of U.S. teens used TikTok for educational content weekly in 2023
20
Italian high schools used gamified learning in 59% of classes in 2022
21
Spanish students accessed Khan Academy or similar 41% monthly in 2021
22
Singaporean schools integrated AI in 76% of curricula in 2023
23
Nigerian students used edtech apps 2.8 hours weekly in 2022
24
Swedish universities reported 92% student use of digital libraries in 2021
25
Argentine K-12 blended learning reached 74% adoption in 2023
26
South Korean students used adaptive learning software daily in 87% of schools in 2022
Interpretation
Educational Technology Use Interpretation
The global classroom has officially logged on, proving education's future isn't just digital—it's already the present, with teachers and students from Des Moines to Delhi trading chalkboards for dashboards and textbooks for TikTok tutorials.
More related reading
04 · Category
Internet Usage27 stats
01
46% of U.S. teens used smartphones almost constantly in 2023
02
Globally, students aged 12-18 spent an average of 6.5 hours daily on the internet in 2022
03
89% of U.S. high school students used the internet daily for non-schoolwork in 2023
04
U.K. pupils aged 13-18 averaged 3.2 hours of recreational internet use per day in 2022
05
In 2023, 72% of Indian college students accessed the internet via mobile data daily
06
Australian students spent 4.8 hours daily online outside school in 2021
07
95% of U.S. college students used high-speed internet at home in 2023
08
Brazilian teens averaged 8.7 hours of internet use per day in 2022
09
Canadian postsecondary students reported 7.2 hours daily internet use in 2023
10
81% of South African students accessed internet daily via mobiles in 2022
11
U.S. tweens (8-12) spent 5.5 hours daily on screens including internet in 2022
12
German students aged 12-19 averaged 4.1 hours recreational internet daily in 2021
13
Japanese university students used internet 6.8 hours per day in 2022
14
63% of rural U.S. students had broadband access in 2023
15
French high schoolers spent 3.9 hours daily on social internet in 2023
16
Chinese college students averaged 7.5 hours online daily in 2022
17
Mexican students used internet 6.2 hours per day in 2021
18
U.K. university students averaged 5.4 hours non-academic internet daily in 2023
19
Kenyan students accessed internet 2.1 hours daily on average in 2022
20
97% of U.S. teens used YouTube daily in 2023
21
Italian students spent 4.7 hours online recreationally daily in 2022
22
Spanish college students averaged 5.9 hours internet use per day in 2021
23
Singaporean secondary students used internet 4.3 hours outside school daily in 2023
24
Nigerian university students spent 6.1 hours online daily in 2022
25
Swedish high schoolers averaged 3.8 hours recreational internet per day in 2021
26
Argentine students used internet 5.2 hours daily in 2023
27
South Korean high school students spent 7.9 hours online per day in 2022
Interpretation
Internet Usage Interpretation
The global classroom has effectively moved online, but the lesson it's teaching is that students everywhere are now permanent residents of the internet, with a staggering number of daily hours logged across continents, from South Korea's marathon 7.9 hours to Kenya's more modest but still significant 2.1, proving the screen is now the universal blackboard, playground, and social hall all at once.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Students Technology Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/students-technology-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Students Technology Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/students-technology-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Students Technology Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/students-technology-statistics.
Sources & references
82 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level