Do you worry about the wicked impact of video games on the youth of today? Do you fear that button-mashing play is growing in popularity and will soon lead your kids to glaze-eyed delinquency? Well, I’ve got some news for you … (Cue the scary ominous music) … IT’S ONLY GETTING WORSE!!
Yup. Even though industry studies have shown that the average gamer is actually 37 years old (and probably reads Mad magazine while listening to Jon Bon Jovi albums), the kids are catching up. According to a new report from the market research company NPD Group, reported by USA Today, 91% of American kids between the ages of 2 and 17 are gamers. That’s right, they’re even reaching the 2 year olds.
This youthful gaming crowd is growing at nearly 13%, while the actual population growth of kids in the 2-to-17 age range has only increased 1.5% since 2009. And do you want to know the biggest segment of growing game interest? Those 2 year olds. In a survey of more than 4,000 kids, 2- to 5-year-old video game players have increased by about 17% since 2009.
What’s causing this phenomenal kiddie gaming trend? Well, it turns out it’s probably not the demonically grinning, zombie-making game console in your family room. The kids are most likely being wooed by the smartphone in your purse or pocket. According to NPD, the younger set is gravitating toward mobile devices. And in that group, gaming on smartphones and tablets has increased from 8% to 38%, while gaming on traditional portable gaming devices (think Nintendo DS and PlayStation PSP) grew from 38% to 45%.
So there ya go. A nice little stat blast on the growing crowds of infant Angry Bird boppers around you. But hey, it could be worse. At least they’re avoiding Bon Jovi.
Recent Comments