September 2009     The Optus Family Communication Survey has revealed that over half (55 per cent) of Australian children out-smart their parents in technology knowledge before they are 13 years old.

The survey also found that one in two Australian’s identify themselves as the ‘21st Century family’ with over half (53 per cent) of Australian parents rate their family as being like cartoon kin ‘The Jetsons’ – with all family members tech-smart and choosing to regularly communicate by email, SMS, mobile phone and the internet.  

It appears the future is here already - whether people are using Skype to talk to their friends on the other side of town or researching mobile phones at o2 for their imminent trip to the UK or accessing wikipedia (that modern-day miracle of knowledge and learning) it seems that we are all quite happy with internet-based technology. It's a remarkable change that's taken place in only 10 to 15 years.

The Optus Family Communication Survey has also revealed the growing importance of broadband internet within the family home with Aussies indicating they would rather get broadband over many other things! 

For more than half of Australian parents the family’s internet usage has more than tripled in the last five years, and for a further 23 per cent it has doubled.

Top state by state findings are outlined below: 

New South Wales - Australia’s leading Net-working State!

• New South Wales leads in awareness and trial of web technologies and capability but is average in trialing mobile technologies.  It’s also home to the most social networkers nationally (44%).
• This state has the highest number of children in NSW (38%) get their mobile under aged 13 years (national average 34% and QLD lowest at 28%).
• New South Wales families have the most mobiles per household in Australia. It also has the highest number of email or mobile parental checks nationally  – 28%. 

Victoria - Socialising and Simpsons State!

• Victorian families are all about fun over function on the Net … socialising and shopping it is!
• Talking the talk on their mobiles .. Victorians use their mobile the most frequently of all states in Australia
• Victoria has the highest proportion of Simpsons families nationally - with parents surveyed slightly techno-phobic, but believe their children to be well-versed in modern technologies.
• It has the second highest number of Jetsons families – tech savvy & communicating by all modern technology phone & internet - (48%) behind WA (52%) but higher than national average of 46%
• This state boasts the most Tweeters in Australia! 13% compared to just 3% in Queensland!  

Queensland - Queensland Kids Most Tech Savvy in Australia!

• Children in Queensland outwit their parents technology knowledge earlier than any other state; 59% are more tech savvy than their parents before the age of 13 compared to the rest of Australia 53% and just 46% in South Australia.
• Queenslanders are Internet Addicts! with the highest number of heavy internet users in Australia
• Queensland  has increased its internet usage the most of all Australian states over last five years

South Australia - South Australians are the mobile leaders of Australia!

• South Australians are utilising new mobile technologies more than any other state, choosing to communicate through their phones rather than the internet/social networking.
• Home to early adopters in technology but laggers in social networking & internet based communication - largest number of social networkers in Australia (shared with Victoria).
• Australia’s highest usage of mobile technology usage - SMS, MMS, mobile internet.
• Most restrictive with their children with more parents than any other state never allowing their children to have a mobile phone.
• Joint highest number of online shoppers (alongside Victoria) and online auctioneers & bidders nationally.

West Australia - West Australia is the nation’s most tech savvy, the ‘Jetsons’, State!

• Highest number of tech-savvy families, the ‘Jetsons’, in Australia! (52%, national average 46%)
• Highest emailers and video callers nationally.
• West Austalians use their mobile the least frequently of any states in Australia, only 16% of West Australians use their mobile more than 10 times a day compared to 21% (VIC).

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