Survey reveals IT habits of Mayo 'tweenagers'

CONSUMER electronics brand Alba has revealed how “tweenagers” are rejecting TV for tablets and other mobile devices as they become the most mobile-centric generation we’ve ever seen.

Mayo “tweenagers” – children aged 7 up to teenage – are flush with pocket money which they are spending on technology such as phones and tablets.

The survey amongst Mayo parents with children in this age bracket has found that the days of tweens being glued to the TV are over, as interest shifts considerably to smaller and smaller screens. So much so, that demand among this group is for mobile phones (30.8%) and tablets (30.8%) while none mentioned TVs.

Mobile phones top the league of most coveted tech for “tweenagers”. 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.

Mayo “insta-tweens” are using the handheld devices to consume traditional media, such as TV shows, play interactive and educational games, and engage with friends online. And they are able to do so with the help of generous weekly pocket money payouts from their parents. The Alba survey shows the majority (53.9%) of pre-teens are pocketing between €5 and €20 a week.

The importance of being constantly connected is evident, with 23.1% of “tweenagers” taking their mobile phone to school.

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 (38.5%) and social media (30.8%), considerably more than chatting about other popular culture topics, such as fashion (15.4%), celebrity (15.4%) and reality television (7.7%). But the favourite topics for Mayo “tweenager” chat is friends (53.8%).

In another sign of the changing times, today’s tweens are getting more money for less work. While 70% of parents said they had to do chores to earn their pocket money, 30% of pre-teens nowadays get away with doing no work in return for payment.