世論 What Japan Thinks

With mobile phones becoming an essential item for parents to give their children, and with mobile phone companies advertising child-tracking services, it would be interesting to look at a recent article published by japan.internet.com on the results of a survey conducted by goo Research into children using mobile phones.

Demographics

Between the 16th and 20th of August 2007 1,077 members of goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.6% of the sample was male, 23.6% in their twenties, 22.0% in their thirties, 21.2% in their forties, 20.2% in their fifties, and 13.0% aged sixty or older.

I rather like the current au advertisement for their child-tracking service, so I present it here for your enjoyment.

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=cZMSSsrr12M

Research results

First of all, 414 people from the sample had elementary and middle school-age children. They were asked the following question.

Q1: Have you given your child a mobile phone? (Sample size=414)

Yes (to SQ1)	35.3%
No	59.7%
Child has own phone	5.1%

In February, a similar survey found just 20.7% had given their children mobiles. Detailed analysis of the figures suggest that the number of elementary-aged children with phones has increased significantly.

Q1SQ1: Have you set any limitations on mobile phone usage? (Sample size=146)

Yes (to SQ2)	26.0%
No	74.0%

Q1SQ2: What limitations on mobile phone usage have you set? (Sample size=38, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Site access restrictions	34	89.5%
Outgoing call restrictions	15	39.5%
Fee restrictions	14	36.8%
Incoming mail restrictions	14	36.8%
Incoming call restrictions	11	28.9%
Outgoing mail restrictions	7	18.4%
Other	0	0.0%

Finally, the 663 people without elementary or middle school-age children were asked the following question.

Q2: If you had elementary or middle school-aged children, what sort of mobile phone would you give them? (Sample size=663)

Standard mobile phone	6.2%
Child mobile phone	49.9%
They shouldn’t carry phones	32.7%
Don’t know	11.2%