Filipino kids today: More Internet, more money
10/29/2009 | 03:11 AM
Although most Filipino children still prefer watching television, an increasing number of them are also accessing the Internet, a study said.
According to a survey commissioned by the New Generations Philippines, 63 percent of children aged 7 to 14 years old regularly use the Internet, showing an almost 40 percent increase in online access since 2003. The respondents said that they usually go online to play games and watch videos, while they also use the web to access information for school requirements.
Older Filipino children, those aged from 13 to 14 years old, access the Internet more for social purposes, the study also found. About 62 percent of kids in that age group go online to access social networking sites like Facebook and Friendster, compared to the 44 percent of users aged 11-12 years old.
43 percent of pre-teens also use the Internet for instant messaging, a significant departure from the 27 percent of 11-12 year-olds who use the feature.
Among those who use social networking sites, 53 percent said that they do not have an online persona different from their offline selves, but 15 percent admitted that they are more “outgoing and say more" online.
Laptop computers are the must-have gadgets for the respondents, with 32 percent preferring them over mobile phones and video games.
With the increase in access to the Internet comes great concern. According to Duncan Morris, vice president for research and market development of Turner International Asia Pacific Ltd., parents usually set ground rules for their children regarding web access. Controlling the amount of time spent online, specifying days when kids can use the Internet and choosing the appropriate sites are some of the ways parents use to ensure their kids’ safety.
“Sometimes, children themselves tell us that they can not go on sites that show violence," Morris added.
Money matters
Filipino children have not felt the economic crisis faced by the rest of the world, it seems.
The same study said that about 91 percent of children are given an average weekly allowance of P197, increasing significantly from 2007’s average of P169. About 96 percent of Filipino children also receive gift money with an annual average of P2130, projecting that the annual income of 7-14 year-olds is P12,374.
The purchasing power of Filipino children has increased to at least P42 billion, the study also said, as there are approximately 3.7 million kids aged 7-14 years old in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. The figure has grown from the estimated P37 billion that children had in 2007.
The 2009 New Generations Philippines study was conducted from August 25 to September 21, interviewing 1000 children aged 7-14 years old. The survey was focused on three urban centers: namely Manila, comprising 80 percent of the respondents, Cebu and Davao, with 10 percent each. The socio-economic groups A, B, C, and D were evenly represented in the study. - Melissa de los Santos, GMANews.TV
According to a survey commissioned by the New Generations Philippines, 63 percent of children aged 7 to 14 years old regularly use the Internet, showing an almost 40 percent increase in online access since 2003. The respondents said that they usually go online to play games and watch videos, while they also use the web to access information for school requirements.
Older Filipino children, those aged from 13 to 14 years old, access the Internet more for social purposes, the study also found. About 62 percent of kids in that age group go online to access social networking sites like Facebook and Friendster, compared to the 44 percent of users aged 11-12 years old.
43 percent of pre-teens also use the Internet for instant messaging, a significant departure from the 27 percent of 11-12 year-olds who use the feature.
Among those who use social networking sites, 53 percent said that they do not have an online persona different from their offline selves, but 15 percent admitted that they are more “outgoing and say more" online.
Laptop computers are the must-have gadgets for the respondents, with 32 percent preferring them over mobile phones and video games.
With the increase in access to the Internet comes great concern. According to Duncan Morris, vice president for research and market development of Turner International Asia Pacific Ltd., parents usually set ground rules for their children regarding web access. Controlling the amount of time spent online, specifying days when kids can use the Internet and choosing the appropriate sites are some of the ways parents use to ensure their kids’ safety.
“Sometimes, children themselves tell us that they can not go on sites that show violence," Morris added.
Money matters
Filipino children have not felt the economic crisis faced by the rest of the world, it seems.
The same study said that about 91 percent of children are given an average weekly allowance of P197, increasing significantly from 2007’s average of P169. About 96 percent of Filipino children also receive gift money with an annual average of P2130, projecting that the annual income of 7-14 year-olds is P12,374.
The purchasing power of Filipino children has increased to at least P42 billion, the study also said, as there are approximately 3.7 million kids aged 7-14 years old in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. The figure has grown from the estimated P37 billion that children had in 2007.
The 2009 New Generations Philippines study was conducted from August 25 to September 21, interviewing 1000 children aged 7-14 years old. The survey was focused on three urban centers: namely Manila, comprising 80 percent of the respondents, Cebu and Davao, with 10 percent each. The socio-economic groups A, B, C, and D were evenly represented in the study. - Melissa de los Santos, GMANews.TV
