KidZui Research Finds 86% of Parents Say Internet
Increases Curiosity in Kids
96% of Parents Think Childern Should Experience The Internet Early
SAN DIEGO, CA--(March 27, 2009) - Research conducted by KidZui, The Internet for Kids (www.KidZui.com), reveals that safe, free exploring of the Internet increases curiosity in children. To celebrate its one-year anniversary, KidZui compiled statistics on how kids use its service and surveyed parents' feedback about kids and the Internet. The results were illuminating: 86% of parents surveyed said that using the Internet increased their kids' curiosity and desire to learn. KidZui user behavior supports parents' impressions. The average 5 to 9-year-old child visits a staggering 135 different Web sites a month using KidZui, versus just three to five sites before using the service, when Web surfing was highly restricted by anxious parents.*
KidZui surveyed 1,000 parents whose children use KidZui to gain insight into the impact of the Internet on their kids. User statistics and top search terms were drawn from the last 12 months of KidZui usage.
The KidZui Internet for Kids Parent Survey found:
-- 79% of parents think the time their children spend on the Internet is valuable
-- 86% of parents think that using KidZui to explore the Internet encourages their kids to learn and discover new things on their own
-- 56% of parents said that using KidZui to explore the Internet has increased their kids' curiosity about the subjects they learn in school
-- 43% of parents said that using KidZui to explore the Internet has helped their children gain independence
-- 71% of parents said that using KidZui to explore the Internet contributed positively to their children's happiness
Parents have benefited beyond their children's newfound Internet independence and curiosity. The survey also found that, despite the fact their kids now spend more time on the Internet, parents' anxiety about their children's Internet use dropped significantly when they used KidZui. Before using KidZui, only 17% of parents never worried about kids being online. By using KidZui, 70% of parents now never have anxiety about their kids being online.
In reviewing how kids have used KidZui, KidZui found that in February 2009:
-- 5 to 9-year-old kids visited 135 sites and watched eight videos
-- Kids used KidZui an average of 3.8 times a week, for 34 minutes each visit
-- Kids spent an average of 8.61 hours a month on KidZui
In the year since launching:
-- Kids have placed more than 4 million tags (a rating system) on content
-- Kids have shared more than 1.5 million pieces of content
-- Content on KidZui increased from 500,000 games, websites, videos and pictures to more than 1.8 million
"It turns out that kids are even more curious than most adults; most parents don't explore 135 different websites monthly," said Cliff Boro, CEO of KidZui. "When you give kids a web browser designed just for them that provides access to a vast world of discovery -- they demonstrate their appetite to learn and grow."
To mark its one-year anniversary, KidZui is launching an updated version of the Internet for Kids that is extremely fast and now includes 1.8 million websites, games, pictures and videos, reviewed and categorized by KidZui's editorial team.
KidZui also evaluated the most popular search terms and content channels for the past year, with interesting insights into what kids are curious about:
-- The Amazing Animals and Science channel received more visits than Hannah Montana.
-- Sites about the Olympic Games were viewed more than High School Musical.
-- Information on Dinosaurs and Tornadoes was looked at more than Bratz dolls or the Jonas Brothers.
-- Content related to "civil rights leaders" was visited 15,979 times, just 24 visits less than Taylor Swift.
-- Kids were more interested in Astronomy than Transformers.
-- Spelling sites were visited more than Spider-Man.
-- Content about Barack Obama was more popular than Santa Claus.
Built for kids ages 3-12, KidZui makes surfing the Internet safe, fun and engaging. With KidZui, children can independently access more than 1.8 million websites, games, pictures and videos, reviewed and categorized by KidZui's editorial team. KidZui's parent and teacher tools give them complete control of their kids' online experiences. Weekly emails give parents and teachers a summary of the sites their kids have visited.
*The KidZui focus group was conducted by Madeline Schroeder, a founder of Mighty Play and leading expert in children's products and Internet properties. The focus group included both parents and children and focused on Internet safety and usage.
About KidZui
KidZui, The Internet for Kids, is a revolutionary free browser and online service that lets kids ages 3-12 enjoy the power and promise of the Internet in a fun, safe and engaging way. KidZui features more than 1.8 million Web sites, videos and pictures categorized by topic and reviewed for age-appropriateness according to strict editorial guidelines. Built from the ground up for kids, KidZui encourages and rewards curiosity and learning, and keeps parents in touch with their kids' online activities. KidZui is funded by Maveron, Emergence Capital Partners and First Round Capital. KidZui is available at www.KidZui.com.
