Use of Mobile Devices: A Case Study with Children from Kuwait and the United States

This study explored children's usage and understandings about mobile devices. The study included 112 children aged 3-5 years, of whom 53 children lived in Kuwait and 59 children lived in the United States. The children were interviewed about their access to and usage of mobile devices, about how they learned to use mobile devices, and the actions and activities in which they engaged with the devices. The findings demonstrated that both Kuwaiti children and children in the United States used mobile devices extensively. Kuwaiti children appeared to have greater access to and usage of mobile devices than children in the United States. Children were able to demonstrate and describe many activities in their usage including answering mobile phones, taking photos and videos, playing games, listening to songs, and watching videos. The research provides children's perspectives about digital devices but also draws attention to the responsibilities of parents and educators to monitor children's usage and teach children about e-safety in their use of these devices.