LOS ANGELES (June 2, 2020) – Interpret LLC’s newest GameByte report, which tracks the gaming behavior of kids age 3-12 in the US, has revealed a clear favorite in the video content wars among younger gamers. Across mobile, console, and PC, YouTube is consistently ranked within the top-3 main sources for kids to learn about new games.
For mobile game information in particular, YouTube has become the leading source for kids, with nearly half of those surveyed citing Google’s platform as a top resource.
“When life gets too busy, many parents rely on YouTube to entertain their kids. Minecraft and Roblox videos are especially big draws for this demographic who regularly upload their own videos at a young age. YouTube’s recommendation algorithm also means that kids are introduced to other games and videos constantly based on their search and browsing habits,” explained Jesse Divnich, Interpret’s VP of Research and Strategy.
“Our data was collected in February before COVID-19 struck, so it’s likely that stay-at-home orders gave YouTube yet another boost in viewership. We’ll have a clearer picture in our next quarterly report, but the data speaks for itself. Mobile game publishers looking to understand how kids discover games would be wise to pay attention to this trend.”
YouTube’s rise to the top has been observed by Interpret over the last five years, with the platform steadily seeing more interest with each successive year. YouTube’s 30% jump since 2015 indicates that kids now value the platform just as much as recommendations from friends when looking for mobile games. By comparison, competing streaming platform Twitch garnered just 12% among kids seeking mobile game information.
Interpret’s quarterly GameByte reports will continue to shine a spotlight on key gaming behaviors among the 3-12 demographic. For more information, please visit www.interpret.la.
Methodology
Interpret surveys 1,000 kids in the USA from ages 3 to 12, with their guardians/parents’ assistance, each year. For 3- to 5-year-olds, all questions are answered by their parents. Since this project began in 2015, there has been an equal split between genders. Although each year’s survey is separate, the methodology remains the same: to qualify, all participants must answer that they play games for at least one hour per week on any of the major gaming platforms.
Media Contact
Jesse Divnich, VP of Research and Strategy
About Interpret
Interpret is a global consumer insights agency designed to help companies at the intersection of media, technology, and entertainment navigate the future. We use quantitative and qualitative research to provide deeper insight into why consumers behave the way they do. We then can integrate our primary research with our clients’ behavioral data to gain comprehensive insight – the ideal combination of representative quant and insightful qual. Interpret is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas, New York, London, and China.
