Teens and tweens are watching less TV, and doing more while they watch, according to research compiled by Packaged Facts, New York.
Eighty percent of tweens (ages 8-14) say they “love” watching TV, but only 60% of teens do, per Simmons Market Research Bureau.
Few kids think that TV is more exciting than real life, and a “significant minority” agree that watching too much TV is bad for you, Packaged Facts reports in its annual report “The U.S. Market for Tweens and Young Teens.”
Many kids also do something else while watching TV, such as reading, listening to music, or using a computer.
“Tweens and young teens are mastering the adult art of multi-tasking,” said Packaged Facts Acquisitions Editor Don Montuori in a statement. “The Internet, in particular, offers a compelling alternative to TV programming, and this is a significant development for marketers in their efforts to target these consumers.”
There are 29.3 billion tweens in the U.S., including 16.4 million kids ages 8-11 and 12.8 million ages 12-14, per the U.S. Census Bureau. They account for about $40 billion in purchasing power, projects Packaged Facts.
