Speed Commerce : Online Shopping Among Kids is on the Rise

With more than seven billion people inhabiting planet Earth and around 60 percent of them having access to the internet, your ecommerce business can reach more people than ever. In the U.S., even kids ages three to 18 have widespread access to the internet, with a whopping 95 percent having internet access at home, according to a 2019 study. The number of kids with smartphones has skyrocketed so much that most kids over the age of seven have their own devices.

It isn't easy to pinpoint how many ecommerce shoppers are under 18. The number of businesses specializing in kids' attire and toys continues to grow. On social media, savvy kids have achieved the status of social media influencer. They may partner with brands to feature their products on their channels. The ways in which brands can safely interact with kid consumers are growing. It's time your ecommerce business start thinking about their youngest consumers.

Who are these shoppers, anyway?

Anyone born after 1980 in the U.S. is generally considered digital natives. They haven't known a world without the internet and find it's the best way to connect and collaborate with others quickly. Kids are active on social media, more so than adults. Kids are drawn to platforms with videos such as TikTok, Snapchat, and multiplayer gaming. They shun traditional social media like Facebook and Pinterest. They are also more likely to explorer new platforms.

When it comes to online shopping, kids are on top of it. All they need is a credit card and an email address, then agree to the terms and conditions on an online merchant's website, and they're off shopping. These young consumers are looking for clothing, toys, games, books, and digital content to consume. More than 93 percent of parents say that their child influences household spending.

With the advent of specialty credit cards like Apple's Family Card, parents can easily control their children's spending. This further enhances a child's ability to make purchasing decisions on their own.

What influences kids' shopping habits?

Social media and influencer marketing significantly impact young online shoppers and are major factors for this growing generation. Peers represent the most considerable influence on kids, with 30 percent reporting that their friends are the most influential when deciding what they like to buy. Social media and influencers come in a close second at 25 percent effect on buying decisions. Family members make up another 21 percent of the impact. And 13 percent of kids say that nothing or no one influences their purchasing decisions. Traditional advertising has less of an effect on kids than ever before.

Online shopping is easy and convenient with the emergence of smartphones. Quick fulfillment has played a role in creating near-instant gratification with online shopping.

What all these numbers mean is that kids are shopping online. More than likely, they are shopping your store, and you may not know it. Now, your task as an online retailer is to keep up with their changing preferences - and to keep their interest as they grow into shopping-savvy adults!