Children under 14 were born with technology and it is increasingly embedded in their lives. Social networks, addictive use of devices and type of consumption are at the heart of the debate
Children are increasingly addicted to screens. Generation Alpha, those born after 2010, is the first to have grown up immersed in a digital environment since birth. This generation has never known a world without screens. technologies that today shape the forms of daily communication and interactions.
A survey conducted by Infobip, a communications and conversational experiences company, showed that members of Generation Alpha began to interact through their smart devices at around the age of 6. This same study even indicates that from the young age of 4, Alphas are already able to master a tablet almost perfectly. In fact, 61% of them already have their own tablet and 49% a smartphone.
Surprisingly, 34% prefer to ask questions to Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa instead of their parents. 30% use devices without their parents’ permission. In addition, 46% of children between 6 and 11 years old have an active account on a social network. social networkeven though there are age restrictions for certain social networks who would dictate otherwise. Added to this, the Infobip study shows that 32% enjoy scrolling through their feed and sending messages daily and very actively from their smartphones.
Whatsapp, one of the most popular apps
As for the most popular ways to stay in touch with friends and family, more than a third of children aged 6 to 11 surveyed are active on WhatsAppwith a staggering 73% of 11-year-olds already quite familiar with the channel. SMS, oddly enough, is not far behind, with almost a third of Generation Alpha (29%) still using this traditional messaging channel and the other third preferring FaceTime.
On the other hand, 25% of Generation Alpha people who have digital devices talk to Alexa or similar virtual assistants on a daily basis. However, only 14% communicate with their grandparents with this frequency.
Preparing for the consumers of 2030
This generation not only values technology, but it also influences their families’ purchasing decisions. As such, many businesses and retailers are seizing the opportunity to implement emerging technologies, such as augmented reality and chatbots, as well as design digital experiences that capture the imagination of young people and facilitate purchasing decisions for their families.
Source: Ambito
