Tweens spending majority of time on internet

11 Jan 2010

Nearly 80% of tweens spend the majority of their time on the internet playing games, according to a new report.

Children aged eight to 14 years old might be the most digitally aware generation yet, having never experienced life without mobiles, internet and computers, but 74% of children still opt for a modern version of old fashioned entertainment such as gaming.

This is followed by 59% of children who most commonly use the web for homework.

Although 95% of the 3,020 children surveyed said the internet was important to them, 30% said they would still prefer communicating with friends face to face while 15% would prefer texting and only 14% would rather chat online. Nearly 10% prefer communicating using their mobile phone.

The study was conducted by The Walt Disney Company EMEA in Italy, France, Germany, the UK, Poland and Spain to analyse the core values across its target audience of eight to 14 year olds following the launch of its new Disney XD channel.

It showed 53% of children believe the internet improves their life by helping them talk to their friends outside school, while 44% said the internet makes it easier to stay in touch with friends.

The majority of children surveyed are financially aware, the report suggests, with 70% opting to save their pocket money over spending it and 64% of children aspiring to work for themselves rather than for someone else when they grow up. The top five future professions amongst tweens are vet, teacher, footballer, doctor and police officer.

Nearly all children think it's important to the look after the planet, with 74% already recycling regularly.

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