Kids and Their CE Devices: Tablets Are Becoming Increasingly Popular

By Karla Robinson
August 16, 2012

A new online survey from The NPD Group, “Kids and Consumer Electronics: 2012 Edition,” shows that kids are now starting to reach for tablets much more than before, challenging the long-standing popularity of gaming consoles.
“Video game console usage rates for children ages 4-14 are still higher than tablets, but this past year saw a strong increase in tablet usage among that age group: with a 13 percent increase in usage rate in 2012 vs. only 3 percent in 2011,” Mashable reports.
“Kids are using tablets to game, watch movies and TV shows, read books and listen to music — even occasionally for taking pictures — so they have embraced the utility of these devices quite rapidly,” according to Russ Crupnick of The NPD Group.
“Older kids also use the tablets for social media and communication, which squarely places these devices at the center for discovery and evangelism of new services and applications, as well as for brands and entertainment of all sorts,” notes Crupnick.
The study recommends that tablet makers start developing new tablets targeted specifically for children.
As for marketing, “…gaming systems and portable entertainment devices topped the list of devices over which children will have the most influence on future device selection,” explains the post. “And when considering a new purchase, ‘the type of technology and features offered by a new device is nearly as important as low price and good value,’ the survey noted.”

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