Abstract
Starting with an overview of social and demographic trends affecting the market, Mintel uses consumer research to establish teens' views on a range of subjects. Money, hobbies, style, going out, music, sports, technology and politics are all covered, with the intention of presenting a wide-ranging overview of teen leisure habits, and how best to reach this particular age group
Table of Contents
- Issues in the Market
- Main issues
- Definition
- Abbreviations
- Insights and Opportunities
- Tailoring the savings accounts
- Broadcasting green credentials
- Rapid response units -- can the mainstream keep up with teens?
- Making gigs female-friendly...
- ...or parent-friendly?
- Eco-warrior Barbie?
- Market in Brief
- £12 billion to spend......but an increasingly complicated life
- Studying getting in the way of earning...
- ...and in the way of partying?
- Museums, not nightclubs?
- Taking an interest in the opposite sex
- Signs of a more mature outlook on life...
- ...but the playground still leads opinions
- Media -- a generation of sophisticates
- Music tastes -- raiding mum and dad' s record collection?
- Demographic and Economic Background
- Key points:
- The baby boom continues to echo down the generations...
- Figure 1: Number of 10-19-year-olds in the UK, 1992-2012
- ...but the echo is getting fainter
- £12 billion of pocket money to spend......and plenty of support from families
- A wider impact on society and the economy
- Key analysis
- Social Trends
- Key points:
- A connected generation...
- Figure 2: Internet access and usage, October 2003-February 2007
- ...but one with fragmented families
- Not enough freedom?
- Or too much?
- The binge generation...
- ...with an eye on the celeb mags
- Steady increase in post-16 education...
- Figure 3: Participation of 16-18-year-olds in education and training, England, 2001-05
- ...and an explosion in Higher Education
- Figure 4: Number of applicants to Higher Education, 2002-06
- NEET -- a major problem?
- Key analysis
- What They Earn, and How They Spend It
- Key points:
- ' Saturday girls' down tools...
- Figure 5: Sources of income -- 11-14s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- ...but boys keep the part-time job
- Staying younger, longer?
- Figure 6: Sources of income -- 15-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Under-15s' income just keeps pace with inflation...
- Figure 7: Total amount of money received in a week -- 11-14s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- ...but a big fall for the 15-19s
- Figure 8: Total amount of money received in a month -- 15-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Record companies already feeling the squeeze
- Figure 9: How money is spent -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Video games up -- saving down
- Key analysis
- Harry Potter -- magic, but not a miracle worker
- Figure 10: How money is spent -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Teenage boys -- not metrosexuals quite yet
- Bookworms up their spend among the under-15s
- Figure 11: Average weekly spend per category -- 11-14s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Some signs of the Beckham effect
- Figure 12: Average weekly spend per category -- 15-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Getting older can be expensive
- Figure 13: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Watching the pennies -- but not the bank balance
- Figure 14: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Where They Go, and What They Do
- Key points:
- Independence down?
- Figure 15: Activities that 11-19-year-olds have done in the past seven days in their free time, 2000 and 2006
- Equality yet to hit the teens
- Figure 16: Activities that 11-19-year-olds have done in the past seven days in their free time, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- The football bug wearing off?
- Figure 17: 11-19-year-olds who support a football club, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 18: 11-19-year-olds who support a football club, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Museums benefit from free admission...
- Figure 19: Outings that 11-19s have been on in the last year, 2000 and 2006
- ...while boys head to the sports fields
- Booking in for the pipe and slippers
- Figure 21: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 22: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Fashion and Lifestyle
- Key points:
- Going for glamour
- Figure 23: Agreement with selected statements regarding fashion and style -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis -- A generation of individuals?
- Attracting the opposite sex
- Figure 24: Agreement with selected statements regarding fashion and style -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- University becomes the norm
- Figure 25: Agreement with selected education-related statements -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 26: Agreement with selected education-related statements -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Too much freedom?
- Figure 27: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 28: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Taking responsibility for the environment
- Figure 29: Agreement with selected environment-related statements -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 30: Agreement with selected environment-related statements -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Attitudes and Concerns
- Key points:
- Girls and younger teens top the list of worriers
- The new puritans -- or not?
- Figure 31: Health-related issues that 11-19s are very concerned about, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Security fears switch from the global to the local
- Figure 32: World political issues that 11-19s are very concerned about, 2000 and 2006
- Will teens ' make poverty history' ?
- Key analysis
- New Labour finding favour among the non-voters?
- Figure 33: Social issues that 11-19s are very concerned about, 2000 and 2006
- Money worries are the price of growing up
- Figure 34: Personal issues that 11-19s are very concerned about, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Old-fashioned aspirations...
- Figure 35: Things that 11-19s think are really important in life, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- ...and signs of old-fashioned gender roles
- Shifting priorities among older teens
- Figure 36: Things that 11-14s and 15-19s think are really important in life, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Advice and Role Models
- Key points:
- Peer-pressure still leads the way
- Figure 37: People that 11-19s consult for advice on various things, 2006
- Key analysis
- Independence among older teens
- Key analysis
- Opinion leaders?
- Celebs are the new role models
- Figure 38: People who 11-19s admire, by gender, 2006
- Figure 39: People who 11-14s and 15-19s admire, 2006
- Key analysis
- Media Usage
- Key points:
- Multichannel TV reaches saturation point...
- Figure 40: TV viewing -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 41: TV viewing -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- ...as does DVD viewing
- Figure 43: 11-19-year-olds who replay TV programmes recorded on video/DVD and who watch hired/bought videos/DVDs, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Radio listening falls behind
- Figure 44: 11-19-year-olds who listen to the radio, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 45: 11-19-year-olds who listen to the radio, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Video killing the radio stars...
- Figure 46: Where 11-19-year-olds listen to the radio, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- ...but cinemas are hitting back
- Figure 47: 11-19-year-olds who have been to the cinema in the last 12 months, 2000 and 2006
- Trouble ahead for teen mags?
- Figure 48: 11-19-year-olds who read magazines, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 49: 11-19-year-olds who read magazines, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Fewer readers, less often...
- Figure 50: How often 11-19-year-olds get magazines, 2000 and 2006
- ...but girls keeping up the magazine habit
- Figure 51: How often 11-19-year-olds get magazines, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Plain enjoyment remains the key reason for reading books...
- Figure 52: 11-19-year-olds who read/buy books and reasons for reading books, 2000 and 2006
- ...but boys go for more practical assistance
- Figure 53: 11-19-year-olds who read/buy books and reasons for reading books, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- New Technology and the Internet
- Key points:
- The connected generation
- Figure 54: 11-19-year-olds who use a PC, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 55: 11-19-year-olds who use a PC, 2000 and 2006
- Who wants to play games when you can email?
- Figure 56: What PC is used for -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Old-world stereotypes move online
- Figure 57: What PC is used for -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Kids outsurf their parents...
- Figure 58: 11-19-year-olds who access the Internet, 2000 and 2006
- ...and clock up serious online time
- Figure 59: Frequency of using the Internet -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- The online schoolyard
- Key analysis
- Time to worry about Internet addiction?
- Figure 60: Hours spent online -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Taking attention from conventional media
- Figure 61: Agreement with selected Internet-related statements -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- A life support system for girls
- Figure 62: Agreement with selected Internet-related statements -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- The digital music revolution continues
- Figure 63: Items of new technology used by 15-19s, by gender, 2006
- Getting Mobile
- Key points:
- Ownership soars...
- Figure 64: Mobile phone ownership -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 65: Mobile phone ownership -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- ...but do they actually have anything to talk about?
- Figure 66: Mobile phone usage -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Text, not talk
- Figure 67: Mobile phone usage -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Not quite adult yet
- Figure 68: Who teens text/call -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Girls making more use of their phones
- Figure 69: Who teens text/call -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Video Games -- Just Kids' Stuff?
- Key points:
- Up -- but not by much
- Figure 70: 11-19-year-olds who play computer games consoles and handheld games, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 71: 11-19-year-olds who play computer games consoles and handheld games, 2000 and 2006
- Key Analysis
- Still toys for boys -- but girls keep on gaming
- Key analysis
- Growing out of gaming...
- Figure 72: Number of hours per week spent playing computer games -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- ...or just more casual gamers in the market?
- Figure 73: Number of hours per week spent playing computer games -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key Analysis
- Music -- Are Downloads Killing Music?
- Key points:
- Singles and tapes -- who needs them?
- Figure 74: Purchasing of CDs, tapes and records -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Cash decides format choice?
- Figure 75: Purchasing of CDs, tapes and records -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Are the kids borrowing dad' s CDs?
- Figure 76: Favourite types of music -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Rap jumps to the top of the charts
- Figure 77: Favourite types of music -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- MP3 players and the long tail leading to more catholic tastes?
- Key analysis
- Festivals hit the mainstream
- Figure 78: 15-19-year-olds who go to concerts and music festivals, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Part-time rockers
- Figure 79: How often teens attend music events -- 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Is it the parents, not the teens, who need to grow up?
- Figure 80: Who teens go to music events with, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Music remains a passion
- Figure 81: Agreement with selected music-related statements -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Music -- life support for older teens
- Figure 82: Agreement with selected music-related statements -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Eating Out -- More Than Just Fast Food
- Key points:
- The convenience culture extends to teens
- Figure 83: 11-19-year-olds who go to pizza places, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Pizza delivery -- a rite of passage?
- Figure 84: 11-19-year-olds who go to pizza places, 2000 and 2006
- Girls chew the fat while chewing on a crust
- Figure 85: Eating in at pizza places -- frequency and who usually go with -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Parents take second place to friends among older teens
- Still not cutting the apron strings -- or just more convenience?
- Figure 87: Takeaway/home delivery from pizza places -- frequency and who usually go with -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Sharing a pizza in front of the TV
- Figure 88: Takeaway/home delivery from pizza places -- frequency and who usually go with -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Fast food nation?
- Figure 89: 11-19-year-olds who go to fast food places, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 90: 11-19-year-olds who go to fast food places, 2000 and 2006
- Burger bars still dominate -- but they' re slipping a little
- Figure 91: Types of fast food places that 11-19s have been to in the last three months, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Growing out of packed lunches
- Figure 92: Types of fast food places that 11-14s and 15-19s have been to in the last three months, 2000 and 2006
- Fast food is made for friends
- Figure 93: Eating in at fast food places -- frequency and who usually go with -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Older teens opt for slow fast food
- Figure 94: Eating in at fast food places -- frequency and who usually go with -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Solo diners?
- Figure 95: Takeaway from fast food places -- frequency and who usually go with -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 96: Takeaway from fast food places -- frequency and who usually go with -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Is eating out the new staying in?
- Figure 97: 11-19-year-olds who go to other restaurants, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 98: 11-19-year-olds who go to other restaurants, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Ethnic food on the up
- Figure 99: Other restaurants -- types visited in the last three months, frequency and who they usually go with -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Signs of growing sophistication among older teens
- Figure 100: Other restaurants -- types visited in the last three months, frequency and who they usually go with -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Out and About
- Key points:
- Coffee shops -- the third place?
- Figure 101: 11-19s who go to coffee shops, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 102: 11-19s who go to coffee shops, 2000 and 2006
- Friends, not family
- Figure 103: Frequency of visiting coffee shops, and who usually go with -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Out of the clubs, and back to the gigs
- Figure 104: Places that 15-19-year-olds go to, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Key analysis
- Fewer going out -- and more going out less often
- Figure 105: Frequency of visiting clubs, pubs and gigs -- 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Watching over the parents?
- Figure 106: Who teens go to pubs, clubs and gigs with -- 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Sports and Leisure
- Key points:
- Football and swimming still top the sporting lists
- Figure 107: Frequency of taking part in selected sports and leisure activities -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Catering for the female sports fan
- Key analysis
- Progress for the health lobby?
- Key analysis
- Losing the sporting habit
- Figure 108: Frequency of taking part in selected sports and leisure activities -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- Not the joining type?
- Figure 109: Membership of clubs -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 110: Membership of clubs -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006
- So -- Are Teens Getting Older, Younger?
- Does the generation gap even exist any longer?
- Identifying what it means to be an adult
- Taking responsibility for themselves...
- ...but only to a degree
- Cutting down on the booze?
- Lending dad your console...
- ...but raiding his record collection
- Two generations, meeting in the middle
- Appendix
- Demographic profile of the sample
- Figure 111: Demographic profile of 11-14-year-olds, by gender, age, socio-economic group and region, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 112: Demographic profile of 15-19-year-olds, by gender, age, socio-economic group and region, 2000 and 2006
- Political and social concerns
- Figure 113: Issues that 11-19s are concerned about, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 114: Issues that 11-14s and 15-19s are concerned about, 2000 and 2006
- Sources of advice
- Figure 115: People that 11-14s and 15-19s consult for advice on various things, 2006
- Figure 116: People that 11-19s consult for advice on various things, by gender, 2006
- Offering advice
- Figure 117: People who consult 11-14s and 15-19s for advice on various things, 2006
- Figure 118: People who consult 11-19s for advice on various things, by gender, 2006
- Sports participation and club membership
- Figure 119: Frequency of taking part in selected sports and leisure activities and membership of clubs -- 11-19s, by gender, 2000 and 2006
- Figure 120: Frequency of taking part in selected sports and leisure activities and membership of clubs -- 11-14s and 15-19s, 2000 and 2006

