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In addition to the money spent on devices, online connection, online subscriptions, and apps, the internet is also costing Australian families time with their children, a new Suncorp study has suggested.
The Suncorp survey of 1,200 Australians found that Australian children are spending an average 2.5 waking hours each day online – a significant amount of time which comes as “no surprise” considering that this generation has grown up with the internet and “with young people using the internet to socialise, learn, and be entertained,” said Phil Slade, Suncorp behavioural economist.
The survey also shed light on how Australians spend their time online, with older Australians using the internet for “life admin,” such as sending emails, banking, paying bills, shopping, or reading news, and young Australians using the technology for watching streaming services like Netflix or playing games.
“However, playing games, watching television, and streaming music can come with extra fees,” Slade said. “Parents need to be mindful of the costs associated with technology and data usage and budget for it accordingly, like they do utility bills and groceries.”
The study also found that parents with children (under 18 years) spend an average of $3,000 staying connected each year – $500 more than the average national spend.
Slade advised parents to help their children strike an online-offline balance “by bringing technology out of the bedroom and into the lounge or kitchen.”
“Kids can interact with the chaos and randomness of everyday life while staying connected, giving them further learning opportunities,” Slade said. “They can leverage technology to foster curiosity and learning, like using YouTube to learn to play the guitar or to find recipes to cook with their families.”
Slade also urged parents to set reasonable rules for their kids' internet activity.
“Setting expectations around what family time and learning time looks like is important, as is having rules around when and how kids can use their devices to enhance these occasions,” Slade said.
