Boys show greater interest than Girls in Technology.

Teenage boys ages 15-19 are much more likely to be interested in technology and electronic products than girls in the same age group, according to new psychographic data from MRI’s 2009 TeenMark Study. For example, they are 10% more likely than the average teenager to agree that, “I’m fascinated by new technology,” while girls are less likely (-11%) than the average teenager to agree with this statement.

Moreover, 15-19 year old boys are much more willing to share and seek advice about technology and electronic products. They are 44% more likely than the average teenager to give others advice when they are looking to buy technology/electronic products, 34% more likely to discuss their knowledge of these products with others, and 16% more likely to enjoy learning about technology products from others.

Teenage boys in this age group are also 28% more likely to be among the first of their friends and colleagues to try new technology products. On the other hand, teenage girls of the same age are less likely (-26%) than the average teenager to adopt new technology, and the numbers follow a similar pattern for the majority of the technology statements. One attitude teenage boys and girls do seem to agree on, however, is that technology helps make their lives more organized.

“MRI data clearly indicate that 15-19 year old teenage boys are a key segment for marketers of technology products, since they are highly interested in acquiring new technology as well as eager to share their opinions with others,” said Anne Marie Kelly, SVP, Marketing & Strategic Planning at MRI. “Technology marketers who are not doing so already would be wise to target this group by implementing strong word-of-mouth campaigns using social media such as Facebook and ad platforms like interactive gaming.”

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