This paper presents initial findings from a survey conducted with 104 participants aged 10 to 16 in Eastern Austria, exploring smartphone usage among children and adolescents. The anonymous survey aimed to capture patterns in daily smartphone interactions, preferred communication channels, popular social media platforms, and gaming preferences. Early results indicate that smartphones play an integral role in young users' daily routines, with frequent usage occurring in diverse contexts such as commuting, school breaks, at home, and even alongside other media consumption. Messaging platforms like WhatsApp and social media applications including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube dominate the communication landscape, reflecting broader international trends.

Gaming is notably prevalent, with respondents frequently mentioning popular games such as Brawl Stars, Minecraft, Fortnite, Roblox, and Among Us, highlighting gaming's significant role within youth smartphone activities. Conversely, platforms like Facebook, Twitter (now X), Bluesky, Pinterest, Telegram, Signal, and older messaging services like SMS or traditional phone calls appear less relevant or almost unused among the surveyed age group.

Despite reporting many positive experiences related to connectivity, entertainment, and learning, participants also disclosed encountering several issues. Negative experiences, including cyberbullying, intrusive and irritating messages, and technical frustrations like poor battery life, insufficient storage, slow device performance, and unexpected device shutdowns were frequently noted. Privacy and personal data security concerns emerged clearly, with respondents expressing unease about the misuse of personal information and negative peer interactions.

A considerable portion of respondents emphasized the essential role smartphones play in their social lives, academic tasks, and overall sense of belonging. Many respondents regularly exceed four hours of daily smartphone use, underscoring extensive digital engagement. Intensive use raises critical questions about potential implications for mental health, academic performance, and social interactions, suggesting essential areas for further research and intervention. This paper contributes to understanding young people's evolving digital habits and identifies areas requiring attention from educators, parents, policymakers, and researchers dedicated to promoting healthy digital behaviours and online safety.

Keywords: Smartphone usage, adolescents, digital habits, social media, cyberbullying.