Most kids using smartphones or tabs before they can talk

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Oct 30 2013 | 5:47 PM IST
Tech-savvy children are using mobile phones or tablet computers before they can even talk, a new UK study has found.
Some 70 per cent kids know how to use the gadgets before they even start primary school, researchers found.
By the time children are five years old, they have typically sent 116 texts and 85 emails, the study found.
More than one in four - 29 per cent - of youngsters are playing games such as Angry Birds on smartphones and tablets before they can string a sentence together, according to the study by electronic learning company VTech.
The use of smartphones and tablets is encouraged by parents, with 42 per cent buying electronic devices for their children for educational usage, 'metro.Co.Uk' reported.
The study of 2,000 parents with children under 11 also showed 47 per cent of youngsters found information online for school work - compared to 15 per cent who use traditional books.
Also, 13 per cent of children have accessed something inappropriate online, while 13 per cent have called emergency number 999 accidentally.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Oct 30 2013 | 5:47 PM IST

Next Story