US parents relying on mobile devices to entertain their kids [Survey]

It’s official, not only are mobile devices part of our every day lifestyle they are helping raising America’s children, according to a new survey by Ipsos, a global market research company. According to the national survey, parents are leveraging the power of mobile in the way they interact with their kids.

With more than 330 million wireless connections in the United States, consumers are using their mobile devices to do nearly everything — from watching their favorite movie, to purchasing airline tickets to leveraging GPS technology to obtain driving directions. Snapdragon processors are at the heart of today’s leading devices, helping consumers stay connected and do more, while recharging their battery less.

The survey found that 53% of parents with children that are 13 and younger, utilise mobile technology to calm their children down, while nearly three-fourths (74 percent) have downloaded a mobile app specifically for their children. Meanwhile, one-fourth (25%) allow their children to own and carry mobile devices.

Mobile devices are the new pacifier?
According to the survey parents on the move with younger kids depends on their mobile devices to entertain their kids while they got on with the daily activities:

• 53 percent of the respondents who are parents use their mobile devices to calm their children down, with 44 percent stating that having their kids watch something on smartphones or tablets is at least as equally convenient as television. 74 percent have taken advantage of the plethora of mobile apps and have downloaded an app specifically for their children, pointing to mobile devices as a newfound and helpful tool in the parenting arsenal
• 52 percent allow their kids to use smartphones and tablets, showing that mobile access for children 13 and younger is becoming increasingly commonplace. The survey found that 25 percent of those kids own their own mobile device, whereas 29 percent are allowed to use a family owned device, such as their parents’ tablet. Meanwhile, 39 percent of parents whose children do not have their own mobile device say that they would consider purchasing a mobile device for their pre-teen
• 50 percent believe the appropriate age for their children to own smartphones is between 8-13, while 45 percent said between 14 and 18. The line was drawn at 8, with only 5 percent believing it to be acceptable for children below that age to own a smartphone
• 39 percent reported that their kids have called one of their contacts without their knowledge, while 36 percent say their kids have downloaded an app without their knowledge. Additionally, 22 percent have had their devices lost or damaged as a result of their children.

Mobile devices as part of our lifestyle
The survey also found that mobile devices have altered the leisure behavior of adults, particularly around sports and entertainment. People are using mobile devices to enrich their experiences whether it be enjoying graphic-rich gaming, taking sharp 16-megapixel pictures in an instant or running a number of apps at the same time:

• 70 percent of respondents identified the home as the most popular place to use mobile devices
• 58 percent utilize mobile devices to keep in shape via nutrition tips or exercise
• Nearly everyone (94 percent) has used handsets to take pictures; young adults ages 18-24 actually prefer taking photos with their phones vs. cameras at a rate of 46 percent (vs. 38% who prefer cameras)
• 69 percent play games on their smartphones and 67 percent play on their tablets as mobile gaming continues to gain in popularity
• 46 percent of tablet users watch movies at least on a monthly basis
• 56 percent of tablet users utilize mobile devices for digital magazines, whereas the number drops to 32 percent for non-tablet users, showing the impact of the larger viewing experience for readers
• 50 percent of respondents reported that they have used their mobile device to check a sports score, with 18 percent using their mobile device to watch a live sporting event
• 59 percent of those who have been to a sporting event say that they have used their smartphones send text messages while they were there, with 58 percent of consumers using their device to take pictures
• 22 percent said their biggest frustration with their mobile device while at the event is that they can’t hear the caller. Other in-stadium frustrations included poor battery life (reported by 17 percent), difficulty getting a signal/dropped signal (17 percent) and slow data download (14 percent)

The survey was commissioned by Snapdragon processors by Qualcomm which power and enable more than 420 smartphones and tablets, including a large portion of Android devices and all Windows Phone smartphones. The survey sample consisted of 1 500 US residents within the ages of 18–50 who are the primary owners/users of smartphones and tablets.

“This survey reinforces that mobile devices are at the heart of virtually everything we do,” said Tim McDonough, vice president of marketing for Qualcomm. “The finding that more than half (53 percent) consider the processor brand when making a purchase shows consumers know what is inside their device matters. Snapdragon processors are at the heart of many of today’s best mobile devices and set the bar for the best mobile experiences.”