Three UK throws spotlight on parenting and smartphones with new research

Parenting and mobile phone usage appear to go hand-in-hand, according to new research from 5G network firm and Reading-headquartered Three UK.

The connectivity group has tied up with musician and recent father Professor Green to highlight the significance of smartphones and parenting.

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It is also working with digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation in connection with this most modern of phenomena.

The research found that the average parent uses a massive 6.9 terabytes (TB) of data in their lifetime to raise a child.

That’s the equivalent of streaming 27,576 episodes of Peppa Pig in HD or playing Baby Shark on repeat 1.8 million times. Also, on a monthly basis, parents (at 39%) are twice as likely to go over their data allowance than the regular Brit (19%), the study found.

Professor Green said: "When I became a father, I found out that phones become your second or third pair of hands. They are an amazing source of information, advice and connect you to your support network when you need it most."

He added: "Phones are amazing tools but even more so when you’re a new parent. They are a direct line to gran when you’re in an emergency, they are a vital research tool when the little one is feeling ill or the source of much needed entertainment, for you and the kid, while you’re on the move."

In another revelation, the research showed that more than half of parents (43%) state they had "no idea" how people raised children before smartphones.

A further 61% revealed that their device was the most helpful tool when it came to bringing up their little one.

But with poverty in the UK on the rise, 85% of low-income homes say mobile phone connectivity is an issue.

In response, Three UK is working with Good Things Foundation on their National Data Bank, ensuring people can use their phone freely wherever and whenever they need to.

This keeps people connected by providing free pre-paid SIM cards. In other words, it is like a ‘food bank’ but for internet connectivity data.

The study, carried out between August 2-7 this year, found downloading or streaming content for themselves or their child was a big drain, with, on average, 12 hours per week getting streamed.

Parents also frequently ‘Google’ for advice and information, with the average parent admitting to hitting the search bar 11 times a day with queries.

Also, 67% of parents admitted to using their phone the most to capture memories of their child and will take an average of 23 photos each week.

The research group consisted of 1,000 respondents with children aged 0 to six and a further nationally representative group of 2,000 UK adults.

Three launched in 2003 as the UK’s first 3G only network and today its network today covers 99% of the UK population and carried 29% of the UK’s mobile data traffic.

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