October 10, 2012
Generation Mobile
A PlayScience study highlights youth access to mobile devices for entertainment and learning
If you’re having more and more trouble finding your smartphone at home, you may not be alone.
An October 2011 report by PlayScience, a research and development firm, noted that three-quarters of kids ages 2-13 have access to one. That number includes the 33 percent of 10-13 year-old kids who already own their own device.
Parents in the study highlighted smartphones, iPods, and tablets that support mobile play as being valuable tools for teaching new things, reinforcing learning, and promoting future success—in addition to keeping kids occupied. The report also noted that more than a third of kids age 10-13 have access to tablets. This, despite the fact that a spring 2011 Nielsen survey of U.S. consumers found that tablet penetration at the time was less than 5 percent.
The producers of the PlayScience study point out that parents are more likely to own smartphones and other tablet devices when compared to the general population, which accounts for the discrepancy in consumer data. They also noted in an email to LEARNING STARTS that access to the technology did not imply ownership—parents, siblings, and even grandparents could be the source of a child’s access to the devices.
Regardless, the trend is clear: smartphone and tablet use among kids is on the rise.
