One in ten UK kids owns an iPhone, says Westcoastcloud.
Five percent even have an iPad
The security firm asked 2,000 parents with children aged 10 and under about their gadgets and found that one in ten parents thinks its ok for children as young as four to own a mobile phone. Furthermore, 17 percent of the parents polled said they had bought their child a mobile phone following much pestering.
Typically, parents said they considered that by the time a child reaches the age of 10, they were happy for them to own a smartphone. More than two thirds (68 percent) said the handset helped them keep tabs on their children's whereabouts.
Five percent of primary school children own an iPad.
Nearly nine in ten (88 percent) of parents pay for their child's mobile phone, although two thirds said the handset is on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than a monthly tariff. Three quarters claim the phone bill costs £10 per month, although five percent admit their child racks up £20 worth of calls and texts per month.
Half of parents surveyed own a smartphone, while 72 percent have their own laptop or tablet PC. Of these, 15 percent said their child regularly uses their smartphone and ten percent log on to their parent's laptop.
On average, kids spend around three hours a week online, but half of parents admit to not using parental controls on internet-connected devices in the home. Furthermore, 22 percent argue with their child about the amount of time spent online.
"It's great that youngsters are interested and engaged with the latest technology, but children owning their own phones as young as four does seem unnecessary," said Bill Strain, director of Westcoastcloud.
"Kids will always be able to gain access to their parents' phones and laptops but when primary school age children gain access to the internet on these devices, parents need to be aware. There's the potential that they could access unsuitable or potentially harmful content."
Westcoastcloud also revealed nearly ten percent of children aged ten and under have a social account, despite Facebook and MySpace stating the minimum user age is 13. A quarter of parents also admitted their child had an email account.
Comments
Ian said: 1 in 10 children under 10 own an iphone is Westcoastclouds claimAccording to the 2001 census there were 6048767 children under 10 in England Thats 123 of the population The current UK population is estimated at 63 million So 123 of that is 775 million under 10s So there are approximately 775000 children under 10 with an iphone in the UK today
Jon Storm said: This is total nonsense no way 1 in 10 children own an IPhone and in fact thats not even what the press release says And the poll is also badly designed It needs two extra options 1 I would never buy a child that young an IPhone and 2 Read the press release PCA thats not what it saysLazy and incompetent journalism
Clay said: Why didnt you write it properly then Its classic churnalism except the original press release was probably written better
pl64 said: I agree with the other comments the stats make no sense whatsoever and I would very much doubt if 1 in 10 kids has an iPhone I doubt that 1 in 10 adults has that specific handset
hoggleboggle said: typical Apple info-article with research obviously sponsored by the big fruit If one in 10 under 10 have a mobile and 1 in ten have an iphone that implies that iphones are the only ones they have which is obviously false Check the stats before you publish this nonsense
Matt said: Press release masquerading as news They dont say who actually conducted the survey or their methodology or the demographics of the people they asked Shoddy journalism
Carrie-Ann-skinner said: Hi anonman93 The research says one in ten kids owns an iphone Furthermore one in ten parents think its ok for a child as young as four to own a mobile phone Two different statistics
anonman93 said: The headline says 1 in 10 have an iphone whilst the article says 1 in 10 have a mobile which is it