While just a quarter of adults are interested in channel hopping via their phone.
One of the chief goals of the mobile industry is to work towards a 'converged' future, where all consumer devices are connected and the phone is the uber-device controlling them all.
Now, consumer research specialist Intersperience indicates that it's what consumers want. Well, the young ones at least.
The report says almost half of those aged between eight and 18 want a mobile phone that controls other devices, compared to 24 per cent of adults.
Kids want phones to control satellite TVs, while eight to 11 year-olds would particularly like better connectivity over gaming and entertainment systems.
Meanwhile, one-third plan to use m-commerce and a quarter intend to embrace mobile wallets – higher than the older generation.
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Additionally, under-18s are four times happier to store personal info on their phone than their parents.
Mobiles reduce the use of PCs by children, with twice as many preferring their phones for music downloads, emails, research and shopping.
Further results show that parents are willing to pay £20 towards their children's smartphone bills.
Children as young as eight use pester power to persuade parents to buy them a mobile phone, though an iPod Touch is usually bought to fill the gap until the 'appropriate' age of 11 is reached for phone ownership.
Paul Hudson, CEO of Intersperience, said: "For under-18s the future is uncompromisingly mobile. They have a vision of a powerful multi-functional mobile which can connect with and control an array of other devices and services from a Sky+ box to home heating or lighting systems and functions we haven't even thought of yet.
"Children's view of the future is defined by far greater inter-connectivity between devices than their parents who regard even smartphones as primarily a phone that happens to do other things. The onus is on suppliers to develop innovative services in future that fit the lifestyle and aspirations of a new breed of 'connected customers."
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