Alexa boosts children’s learning and cuts screen time, say 95% of parents: Amazon report

Amazon claims that households are most likely to interact with Alexa if they have a child under the age of eight.

Image of a mother and child in a room with an Amazon alexa device.

Amazon claims that the Alexa is popular with children and their parents but that does not mean it is a good idea. (Amazon)

You have heard about iPad kids but have you heard about Alexa kids? Amazon said that households with young kids under the age of eight demonstrate twice the level of Alexa interactions compared to other users.

Over the last year, there was a 15 per cent increase in requests for music, with many of them being for children’s music. The top five most popular songs for children include Baby Shark, Lakdi Ki Kathi, Johnny Johnny Yes Papa, Wheels on the Bus, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Alexa customers also seem to be interested in folk talkies. Akbar Birbal, Tenali Raman, Panchatantra stories and others are very popular, especially in Hindi. Alexa users asked for these stories about 34 times an hour on average, according to Amazon.

“Parents often tell us how Alexa has become a companion in their parenting journeys. The option to access a number of useful kid-friendly experiences with simple voice commands makes Alexa a convincing addition for a young family. While it is a great learning and entertainment tool for kids, Alexa can help parents manage their lives too. Whether it is controlling smart home appliances with voice while juggling numerous tasks or asking for a bedtime story as part of their child’s daily routine, Alexa’s right there to help them,” said Dilip R S, Director and Country Manager for Alexa, Amazon India, in a press statement.

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Amazon claims a study conducted for it by Kantar revealed that Alexa has helped reduce screen time among kids and helped them learn. Among parents who actively used Alexa smart speakers at home, 95 per cent agreed that having Alexa at home helped reduce screen time and that it acts as a companion for their kids. As many as 90 per cent of them felt Alexa helped their kids stay mentally active, learn new things and become independent.

While Amazon may be actively marketing Alexa towards children, use of the voice assistant is not necessarily good for them. A 2018 report in The Intercept said the device could stunt development and normalise surveillance for children, citing, paediatricians and others, and critics. So if you plan to let your children use Alexa or a similar product, do your own research and find out if you are okay with the risks.

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