UK Children and Technology Consumer Report 2022

The UK Children and Technology Market Report examines parents’ attitudes toward their children’s use of technology, children’s access to and ownership of technology devices and the impact of inflation on technology purchases for children. This report covers the education technology market size, market forecast, market segmentation and industry trends for children and technology.   

Children’s Technology Market Overview

The pandemic elevated the importance of technology and increased the use of digital tools for work, entertainment and online shopping. Parents increasingly consider technology a priority for children, to aid their education and support their social lives, but increased pressure on household finances and rising energy bills will inevitably force many to reconsider purchases or opt for lower-priced options.

However, Mintel’s children and technology market report outlines how the cost of living crisis will create opportunities for value own brand technology lines to help consumers economise. Brands will also look at ways to spread the cost of children’s technology devices to help mitigate prohibitive upfront device costs.

Trends and Statistics on Children’s Use of Technology UK

Parents experience ongoing concerns about their children’s use of technology, with a third of parents saying that their child/ren has had a negative experience online. New metaverses have attracted headlines for exposing children to inappropriate content online. If safety can’t be guaranteed in new emerging virtual reality worlds, then innovative work can be undone in the children’s technology market as parents switch off. Children will need more guidance and perspective about what is and what isn’t healthy to share publicly. Similarly, parents need support to help children learn good digital habits.

Statistics on children’s use of technology UK

• 70% of parents limit the amount of time their child/ren uses social media platforms.
• 51% of UK children have access to a tablet.
• 58% of parents are concerned that the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted their child/ren’s learning development.
• 53% of parents admit that their child/ren knows more about technology than they do.

Future Opportunities for the Education Technology Market

Despite the financial pressures families face, and with four in 10 saying they worry about being able to afford the tech their children want, parents are also aware of the importance of immersing their child/ren within the education technology market. Parents’ desire to improve their child’s digital literacy will continue to power the growth of the children’s technology market. Many are also not willing to compromise on quality and technology purchasing is seen as a sacrifice parents are willing to make for their children, despite the near-term cost pressures many will face.

Now and in the near future, developers and brands will need to prioritise consumer safety with metaverse developments to ensure innovative safe places for children to experience.

To discover more about the UK Children and Technology Market Report 2023, read our UK Marketing to Parents Market Report 2022, or take a look at our other Technology Market Research.

Quickly Understand

• The impact of COVID-19 on parental attitudes towards, and children’s use of technology.
• The impact of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis on technology purchases for children.
• Competitive strategies of brands operating in the market for children’s technology.
• Children’s access to and ownership of technology devices.
• Activities undertaken by children on smartphones, laptops or desktop computers.
• Purchase intentions of new technology products.
• Parental attitudes towards technology and digital interactions.

Covered in this Report

Brands: Lego, Pokemon, Epic, Disney, Apple, Google, Minecraft, Floreo, PixelMax.

Expert Analysis from a Specialist in the Technology Sector

This report, written by Emily Viberg, a leading analyst in the technology sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.

Parents’ concerns over children’s screen time and digital stimulus as well as anxieties over the affordability of technology purchases, are mitigated by their understanding of the importance of children being equipped with the digital skills to navigate modern life. In fact, parents are willing to make sacrifices to pay for new technology purchases rather than second-hand and often have a preference for premium paid-for app experiences.”

Joe Birch
Consumer Technology Analyst