the Wedding Planner

UK Wedding News

30/07/2014

Children 'Spend More Time Messaging Than Talking'

Children today spend more time sending each other messages on phones or social networking sites, than they do actually talking in person, a new study has revealed.

The research, commissioned by Fun Kids Radio, found that for 36% of children aged eight to 14, text messages and social networking sites are the preferred mode of communication. Many said they are aware they spend too much time on electronic devices, and have more fun when they are playing outside. Although, for a fifth of children, they said their parents didn't like them playing outside, due to concerns about injuries and strangers.

Some 2,000 children, aged between eight and 14, were polled for the 'iGeneration report'. Among its other findings, it was revealed that today's generation of children are becoming increasingly health-conscious; 54% said they care about healthy eating, with one in 10 questioning their parents about the food they eat or buy. Perhaps more worryingly, however, is that 12% of children also admitted to having been on a diet, with similar numbers of boys and girls saying they have tried to lose weight.

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Gender-based commercialisation, such as specific labelling on toys for girls and boys, is also an issue today's younger generation is aware of but the report said that they are unlikely to be swayed in their decisions by such marketing. A third of children said they didn't care if toys were labelled for either girls or boys, but one in eight parents don't allow their offspring to play with toys not aimed at their gender.

The report also covered topics such as school, marriage, pocket money and technology.

When it comes to technology, 42% of children have a smartphone, with 36% claiming they spend more time communicating with their friends by text or social networks, rather than talking in person. Interestingly, just one in 100 kids felt being popular on social media was important, with a majority saying being happy, clever and having a loving family were more important.

Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University, is quoted as saying that social media has helped the younger generation to become more independent. He also said they have a "heightened sense of individuality", because of the range of media they are exposed to.

He continued, saying social media could help children to learn. "In the USA, like here, two out of three families are working parents; whilst the parents work, the 'latchkey kids' learn from the plethora of media outlets available to them, thus they're learning quicker and less likely to be solely influenced by their parents or the TV alone – perhaps a similar phenomenon is occurring here," he explained.

(JP/CD)

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"Children today spend more time sending each other messages on phones or social networking sites, than they do actually talking in person, a new study has revealed."