According to a survey carried out by Sky Ireland, Irish kids are leaving their parents well and truly in the dust when it comes to online usage.
Results of the survey show kids spend an eye-watering equivalent of half a school day online when they are out of the classroom, with 57 per cent of teens spending three hours or more online, compared to 27 per cent of parents.
The survey also found that Irish teenagers are more connected to their peers with 40 per cent of them using the Internet for communication (Skype, social media, emailing), compared to just 29 per cent of adults.
And another interesting finding is that almost half (49 per cent) of Irish teens cannot go for more than two hours without checking the Internet, compared to 20 per cent of Irish parents. Well, our kids furiously banging away at their phones and tablets constantly is pretty much proof of that!
Teenagers’ top priority when arriving home from school is communicating with their friends via social media (40 percent), followed by gaming (23 per cent) and then streaming their favourite music, TV shows, movies and YouTube videos online (21 per cent).
Sky carried out the survey to coincide with switching season, as Sky Ireland announce its latest switching offers for new and existing customers. Existing TV customers can add Sky Fibre Unlimited with Talk Freetime for €35 per month for 12 months; and for new customers joining Sky and taking a ‘triple play’ bundle of Sky Fibre Unlimited, Talk Freetime and Sky TV Original pack it’s just €55 per month for 12 months**.
So by switching, Sky Ireland says that Sky TV customers can save €300 over the first year versus Eir*** by switching to Sky Fibre.
According to the survey, three-quarters of Irish parents have switched broadband providers to date, while almost a quarter have never switched provider. With the main two motivations for switching cited as: getting a better broadband offer (28 per cent), and getting better broadband service bundled with TV and home phone (27 per cent). More than 4 in 10 parents (43 per cent) surveyed have switched their broadband service provider in the last two years.
The remaining 57 per cent who haven’t switched broadband providers in over two years have said their reason for not doing so is, they think they have the best deal already (54 per cent), whereas 23 per cent say it’s too much effort and they think service may be affected. No one said they switch every year.
“It’s the season for people to get organised and get back into their usual routines as the kids are going back to school and a time when households review their monthly bills,” says Ann-Marie MacKay, Director of Product and Customer Growth at Sky Ireland. “Yet according to our research, almost a quarter of Irish consumers have never switched their broadband provider and 20% say that their biggest barrier to switching is that it’s too much hassle. With the new Sky Fibre offer and our dedicated ‘Switch Squad’ it’s never been easier, or better value, to switch.”
**This offer is only available with the Original TV package. Box and set up costs are additional and may vary.
***Comparison against Eir’s Broadband, Unlimited UK & Mobile Calls bundle over 12 month contract.
The Sky ‘Switch Squad’ makes switching as easy as possible – customers can call the team on 0818 719 805, or visit sky.ie/fibre for more information.
