Generation: Digital

Recent studies show that televisions are no longer the screen of choice for people to access their favourite TV, movies, videos and music. This has occurred over time with the development of more hands on devices such as tablets and smartphones. Over 50% of parents confirmed their children chose other devices instead of the TV. This is Generation: Digital.

This has changed parent-disciplining tactics as taking away tablets or phones is viewed as more of a punishment than reducing TV time, which used to be the go-to disciplinary act.

Statistics now show ages 18-24 have reduced their television watching by 3 hours and 45 minutes per week, which shows that from 2011-2015 we have reduced television watching by 8 and half hours per week. That’s a decline of 17% year over year which means that one-third of this age group has transitioned to other devices!

This endorses the idea that watching television is out dated and even utilized as a punishment for younger generations. Children now choose handheld devices as it gives them, as well as any other user, the autonomy to watch what they choose without having to compromise with others. In fact these new devices are so popular that about 41% of children were said to pick screen time over dessert!

The decline in television time for children and young adults has resulted from the gain in autonomy that hand held devices now gives us. I know with my family the television is often dominated by my parents who are the authority on what it is that we watch which is often frustrating and boring. I think this speaks to the generation gap that parents have with their children, where they spent their time watching parentally approved shows, children and young adults of the modern day now have access to any genre, show, movie or video clip they desire.

This is good news for online streaming and multimedia devices like Netflix, Crave TV, Apple TV, YouTube, Shomi, Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus who have begun to reap the rewards of the decline of Television. Which is no surprise as these streaming devices provide more episodes or even exclusive seasons, which allows viewers to binge watch the television shows they love without having to wait. Though these devices have made significant impact on television watching it still has not even breached the point of eradicating it.

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Sources:

http://adage.com/article/media/study-9-10-americans-binge-viewers/299332/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social

http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/are-young-people-watching-less-tv-24817/

http://time.com/3615387/tv-viewership-declining-nielsen/

Jennifer Wales, Raven5, July 2015

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