What you need to know
Parents’ fears regarding their child’s use of technology are numerous, with stranger danger, access to inappropriate content and cyberbullying at the top of the list. Technology brands are attempting to respond to these fears, giving parents greater control and creating child-friendly versions, as well as emphasising the positive role technology can play in aiding child development.
Major social and media networks, such as YouTube and Vine, have recently launched child-friendly versions of their services that have strict restrictions in terms of content in order to protect children and encourage parents to allow their children access.
Children’s viewing habits continue to evolve, as they increasingly opt for varied online content, rather than traditional TV watching. Content producers and advertisers have to adapt to the changing landscape in order to reach this influential demographic.
Covered in this report
For the purposes of this report, Mintel’s definition of ‘technology’ includes smartphones, tablets, static games consoles, portable games consoles, e-readers, internet-connected smart televisions, desktop and laptop computers, gaming, social networking and any form of digital media consumption.
The terms ‘teen’, ‘tween’, ‘child’ and ‘young people’ have been used interchangeably to describe children aged 10-15.
