“You Never Forget Your First”

At what age do we

start to need a

smartphone?

Image: mateoone

Today, 19% of all phones sold are smartphones – and this number is growing

every month!

Image: Ricky Romero

But who are the owners of all these smartphones?

Image: Chris CB

For what demographic

do they become

a ‘need’ rather than a

‘want’?

Image: Byron and Tamara

Children are asking for, and receiving,

smartphones of their own - at younger

and younger ages.

Image: dizzylizzy1227

It’s clear why: The vast variety of available apps

offers entertainment, useful information and loads of fun

Image: Photo Giddy

And they’re being targeted: Phones sport new “kid-

friendly” designs and are promoted as ways for families always “on the go” to keep in

touch.

Image: chailey

This mobile exposure is affecting childhood as

we know it…

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19% of kids worldwide (ages 2-5)

can operate a smartphone application.

Only 9% can tie their shoelaces.

Image: woodleywonderworks

With simpler ways to stay in touch, smartphones are probably not

necessities for children.

Image: woodleywonderworks

Smartphones are even more prominent among teenagers – they are the device of choice

for connecting to the web and

to each other

Image: esteban

50% of teens say they text their parents

every day

70% say they use text

messaging to do school work

So, necessity?

Image: Dave Shareski

But most schools treat the phone as a disruptive force that must be managed and

often excluded from the classroom

Image: Chris Campbell

And smartphones can be dangerous:

1 in 3 American teens aged 16-17 admits to having texted while driving

Image: Bruno Barreto

But from a teen’s point of view: The new social norm is that

you should respond to anyone about anything immediately.

When youdon’t, you are out of it socially.

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At an age when ‘fitting in’ is pivotal, maybe smartphones are

necessary for teens trying to keep up with our mobilized world.

Image: Alberto Varela

But with Mom & Dad likely footing the expensive bills that smartphones entail, perhaps their opinion matters more.

Image: William Ross

Adults have the freedom to choose the phone that they feel best suits their needs…

…but is this necessarily a smartphone?

Imag

e:

spark

tog

rap

hy

In the working world, the consensus

seems to be

‘yes’ Image: Niccolo Caranti

Having mobile access to email and other online services

provides an edge in business.

Image: Holtsman

Email has taken over the workplace, and

employees are expected to be informed on

projects before they even arrive at the office

Image: Dan Levy

Smartphones also allow workers to stay connected to friends and

family during the work day

Image: Matthew Rutledge

Smartphone ownership among

stay-at-home moms is higher

than in the general population

Image: ChrisGoldNY

They’re also common outside the office:

Over 50% of the moms surveyed in arecent BabyCenter

survey said they purchased a

smartphone as a direct result of

becoming a parent

Image: boostmobile

Fulltime parents claim that their

smartphones are necessary for:

1. Organization

2. Educational

apps

3. Media featuresImage: Jean Pichot

Do smartphones help parents to

‘parent’? Or are they a distraction?

Debatable.Image: C-Monster

Clearly, the ‘necessity’ of smartphones at any age is a

matter of perspective!

But whether they fill our ‘wants’ or ‘needs’, they are

becoming the standard in mobility.

References

Slide 2: http://getclip.ca/blog/?p=152

Slide 6: http://www.kidsandmedia.co.uk/advice-on-children-and-smartphones/

Slide 7: http://www.universityhospitalsauthority.com/Pages/Print_Pages/PrintCell_Phone_for_Kids.html

Slide 9: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/more-kids-can-work-smartphones-than-can-tie-their-own-shoes/70101/

Slide 11: http://mobilefuture.org/content/pages/mobile_year_in_review_2010

Slide 12: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx

Slide 13: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx

Slide 14: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx

Slide 21: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_668540.html

Slide 23: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42594164/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/moms-love-their-kids-their-smartphones/

Slide 24: http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/free_press/blog/2011/04/14/the-touch-generation-the-evolution-of-digital-natives

Slide 25: http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/do-moms-really-need-smart-phones/

All photos found on flickr Creative Commons