What Do Kids, Tweens and Teens Do Online?

Understanding what kids (ages 8 to 12), tweens (9 to 14) or teens (12 to 17) are up to — online or off — is a tall order, but MindShare gave it a good try in its “Kids, Tweens, and Teens and Technology” report.

When the firm asked youngsters which technologies they would miss the most, television came first, but video games and the Internet were close behind — and the Internet beat TV by a wide margin among the older teen group.

Radio, newspapers and magazines were hardly in the running. That is somewhat surprising in light of the fact that radio ranked No. 1 in ownership with youngsters ages 8 to 17.

MindShare found notable differences in the ways the three age groups use the Internet. Younger kids are essentially Internet users in training. Their activities are more solitary and task-oriented, and they are more likely to play online games.

Tweens are the Internet explorers. They are beginning to use search more (30% more likely than kids) and connect with others, particularly their peers, online.

By their teens, youngsters are well-connected and savvy Internet users, with search, e-mail and IM important and regular Internet activities.

Courtesy of http://www.emarketer.com