Phones and Tablets Over Pets and Holidays.

• Position: YOUTH PREFERENCES

One in three American parents believe their kids value their phones and tablets more than any other possession or activity. They also feel that, by age eight, their children will understand the way modern gadgets work better than parents do themselves. These are the key findings from research commissioned by Hotwire, San Francisco, Calif., a global communications agency, as part of an ongoing investigation into the way technology will impact the lives of Generation Alpha--children born after 2010.

When asked about their last major tech purchase, 54% of parents say they considered how their children would use it and 25% asked their children's opinion first.

Parents believe their kids view their gadgets as the most-important thing in their life, with 31% saying a phone or tablet tops their children's list, compared to days out with the family (18%), toys (17%), pets (seven percent), and holidays (five percent).

Moreover, keeping up with the Jones remains a big part of American life, as 37% of parents say their children are most likely to ask them to buy a toy or gadget because a friend has it, while 22% say their children are most swayed by online influences.

Some 87% of parents think...