The average age of a first time cell phone owner is six years old, with 53% of American children owning a cell phone by the time their seventh birthday arrives.
A survey conducted by Vouchercloud asked parents with children between 11 and 16 years old what kind of technology/devices their children own:
Cell Phone 96%
Own TV / Sound system 83%
Tablet 75%
Handheld games console e.g. Nintendo DS 71%
eBook Reader 65%
Game console (Xbox, Playstation, etc…) 51%
Vouchercloud also asked how much money had been spent on their child’s collection. The average anwser was $462.00 per child.
Parents were asked what made them decide to get their child their first cell phone. 31% said for security reasons, 25% said to keep in touch with friends and family, 20% said so their child could keep up with friends at school.
74% of parents surveyed confessed that they felt concerned about risks and dangers of digital independence when purchasing a cell phone for their young child. 46% of those concerned installed parental filters and monitors prior to giving their child the device in order to keep a watchful eye on their usage.
vouchercloud.net
