Technology Tastes of Tweenagers
17th January 2017
Consumer electronics brand Alba, exclusive to Argos, has revealed how ‘tweenagers’ (children aged 7 to 12) are rejecting TV for tablets and other mobile devices, as they become the most mobile-centric generation we’ve ever seen.
The survey of parents with children aged 7 up to 12 has found that the days of tweens being glued to the TV are over, as interest shifts to smaller and smaller screens. So much so, that demand among this group for mobile phones (36.5%) and tablets (22.6%) is over 15 times that of TVs (3.4%).
Mobile Phones Top the League
Mobile phones top the league of most coveted tech for ‘tweenagers’, with mobile phone credit (11.6%) considered a ‘must-have’ to stay connected.
In fact, Argos reports that sim-free mobile sales are up by over 50%, as pay as you go deals become more competitive and consumers take to sim-free options, such as the Alba Sim Free 2.8 inch Mobile Phone to save money. This is particularly true for parents looking to purchase a suitable first phone for their child.
Tweenagers are using the handheld devices to consume traditional media, such as TV shows, play interactive and educational games, and engage with friends online. They are able to do all of this with the help of generous weekly pocket money payouts from their parents. The Alba survey shows the majority of pre-tweens are pocketing up to £20 a week.
The importance of being constantly connected is evident, with nearly half of tweenagers taking their mobile phone to school and a third switching on as soon as they wake up. In fact, the mobile phone is now the most common item inhabiting a pre-teen’s backpack.
While other staples remain largely unchanged from that of their parent’s generation, including notebooks and magazines, the poll reveals that present-day pre-tweens may be more health-conscious than their parents, with only 19% taking sweets to school compared to 32% of their parents’ generation.
Tech-savvy Teens
In addition to engaging with new technologies, the survey also reveals that tech-savvy tweens spend a lot of time talking to their friends about technology (32.9%) and social media (38.1%), considerably more than chatting about other popular culture topics, such as fashion (28%), celebrity (21%) and reality television (17.6%). But interestingly, the favourite topic for tweenager’s chat is school.
“Alba provides great value technology for pre-teens whilst also offering vibrant designs with technology that is easy to navigate. It is starter technology that parents can buy for their children, with the confidence that it is durable, affordable and safe, with parental control options offering peace of mind.”Andrea Derrick, Alba Brand Controller
In another sign of the changing times, today’s tweens are getting more money for less work. While nearly half of parents said they had to do chores to earn their pocket money, over 20% of pre-teens nowadays get away with doing no work in return for payment.
Shop Alba products – and much more – at Argos in Garden Square.
