Kids Become Britain's Technology Gurus

Roles Reversed As Kids Leap Ahead Of Parents In Technology Knowledge

Two thirds of kids in Britain believe they know more about technology than their parents and 50% feel that their parents cannot give advice on technology issues, according to the 1998 Motorola British and Technology report, released today.

The report's findings show that kids are using technology more than parents to increase their mobility and become part of the electronic society. 20 per cent of young teenagers spend at least three to five hours a week surfing the Web, compared to only 9% of parents. Half of today's 11 to 16 years olds expect to own a mobile phone in the very near future compared to one third of adults.

Boys are winning the technology battle of the sexes with 81% of boys versus 59% of girls owning a games console. Twice the number of boys compared to girls spend one to two hours browsing the web every week and almost 40% more girls than boys find computers too complicated to use. However, when it comes to keeping in touch, seven girls to every one boy use their mobile phone every day.

For the British and Technology report, commissioned by Motorola and now in its fourth year, 1000 adults and 350 children were interviewed by MORI. The research looks at people's attitudes towards technology, and it demonstrates that Britain is becoming a nation wanting mobility. The survey also looks at both adults and children's views on the Internet, PCs, digital TV and smart-cards and on the electronic society, work, socialising and working practices.

Young teens are using technology to improve their social lives, rather than to limit their contact with other kids as some parents believe. Of the one in twenty kids who currently owns a mobile phone, over 60% use it for chatting or arranging to meet friends. Children interviewed stated that they often go to each others' houses to play the latest games together and 43% believe that computers are good for communicating with friends.

Parents believe that children's knowledge of technology is a good thing with 94% saying it is crucial that they learn about computers in school. Over 80% of kids agree and also say that computers make learning more enjoyable. 59% of kids want even more tuition on computers in schools.

The number of parents worried that their kids spend too much time on computers rather than mixing with other children has dropped by one third in the last year. Parents views are becoming much more pro-technology with 71% saying that a PC at home gives their children significant educational advantage.

"Today's young people are definitely moving us towards a more technologically mature society," comments Mark Durrant, corporate communications manager for Motorola Ltd. "They are extremely comfortable with all types of technology - from games consoles to PCs, mobile phones, pagers and the Internet. Children's confidence and optimism confirms that technology will not only be important, but absolutely integral to modern life in Britain."

As expected, games consoles are the most popular technology among children with 70% owning a console and a further 10% expecting to get one in the future. PCs are almost as popular but are used more in school, than at home, where their main uses are word processing and as reference tools. 60% of children have access to a PC at home.

Britain's 'IT Geniuses' of the future are likely to be 14 to 16 year boys from affluent families as they tend to use technology twice as much as their less well off classmates. Girls aged 11 to 13 are on a par with 14 to 16 year old boys in terms of computer based game playing, but tend to lose interest in games as they get older.

Technical details

MORI conducted 1000 face-to-face interviews between 21 - 24 August 1998. Interviewing was carried out among a nationally representative sample of British households. On completion of the study, the data was weighted to accurately represent the profile of the population.

MORI conducted 292 face-to-face interviews in Scotland between 21 August - 11 September 1998. Interviewing was carried out among a nationally representative sample of Scottish households.

Specialist children's research agency Carrick James Market Research conducted 347 face-to-face interviews with children aged between 11 and 16. Interviews were conducted between 21 August - 4 September 1998. Interviewing was carried out among a nationally representative sample of children aged 11 - 16.