A recent report by the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 reveals that 82.2% of teenagers aged 14-16 know how to use a smartphone. However, only 57% use it for educational purposes, while 76% engage with social media. The report was released on January 28.
For the first time, ASER included a digital literacy section in its nationwide household survey. This section assessed smartphone access, ownership, and basic digital skills among adolescents aged 14-16.
Smartphone availability is widespread, with nearly 90% of both boys and girls reporting household ownership. Over 80% know how to use a smartphone, though a gender gap remains. Around 85.5% of boys possess smartphone skills, compared to 79.4% of girls. States like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh fall below the national average in ownership and usage.
Boys and girls use smartphones for education at similar rates, but boys are more active on social media (78.8% vs. 73.4%). Kerala leads in both categories, with over 80% using smartphones for learning and 90% for social media.
Most teenagers demonstrated basic smartphone skills, such as setting alarms, searching for information, and finding YouTube videos. Over 90% of those who located a video could share it. Gender gaps persist, especially in setting alarms, where 81.5% of boys succeeded compared to 72.4% of girls. However, in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, girls performed equally or better than boys.
ASER findings indicate a post-pandemic rise in digital literacy, smartphone access, and educational use among teenagers.
What is the ASER Report?
ASER is a citizen-led survey that tracks schooling and learning trends in rural India. Launched in 2005, it was conducted annually until 2014 and now follows an alternate-year cycle. The survey collects data on school enrollment for children aged 3-16 and evaluates foundational skills in reading and arithmetic for those aged 5-16. Over time, ASER has expanded its scope to cover various aspects of education in rural areas.
