Report Finds Young Latinos Lead The Way Around The Digital Curve

(Photo: Andrew O'Reilly)

Latinos are adopting new technology such as smartphones and video streaming services more quickly than any other demographic group in the United States, according to a new study.

Nielsen reported this week that Hispanics adopt smartphones at a higher rate than any other demographic group and watch more hours of videos online and on their mobile phones than the average American.

The report, entitled “The U.S. Digital Consumer Report,” found that Latinos spent on average seven hours and 52 minutes a month using a game console like Xbox or Playstation compared to just over seven hours for the general U.S. population.

Hispanics also spend on average eight hours and 21 minutes streaming video on the Internet, compared to just about six hours and 41 minutes for the U.S. general population and six hours and 22 minutes watching idea on mobile devices compared to five hours and 48 minutes.

“Hispanic consumers have rapidly adopted multiple-screens into their daily video viewing routines and represent 47 million traditional TV viewers in the U.S. and growing,” the Nielsen report stated.

Much of this technology use explosion by Latinos is being driven by the younger generation.

Hispanic children under age 9 whose families own mobile devices or computers use them more than their cohorts in other ethnic groups, according to a study published by the National Institute for Latino Policy.

The report entitled "Media, Technology and Reading in Hispanic Families" was prepared by Northwestern University and the National Center for Families Learning.

By devices, Hispanic children use tablets 11 minutes more per day, computers 13 minutes more and smartphones 16 minutes more.

This study, which was based on surveys of 663 Hispanic families with children younger than age 9, seeks to present a view of family customs regarding electronic media.

The analysis also found that Latino children read an average of 68 minutes per day, 14 minutes more than kids of the same age in other ethnic groups.

Hispanic parents see the regular use of these devices as more positive than negative, with 59 percent of them saying the computers are good for their children.

The image of cell phones and television is not so positive, however, with only 34 percent and 33 percent, respectively, approving of them.

The daily use of the television in these homes is greater than among other ethnic groups, with the TV being watched 2 hours 7 minutes, on average, while in other families it is watched an average of 1 hour 38 minutes.

EFE news agency contributed to this report.

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