Paid surveys used to only target adults, but thankfully, more and more panels have started offering online surveys for money for teens.
This gives kids the perfect opportunity to not only influence the development and/or improvement of products like toys, video games, music, movies, clothe etc, beverages, snacks and others, but also to earn some pocket money.
Maybe you have started to contemplate on how to bankroll your college years, or all you want to do is to supplement your measly allowance for daily sustenance?…
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Regardless of where you are coming from, doing surveys for money is a viable option.
The obvious challenge before you can embark your money making adventure is to sift out those legit online survey panels from those scams.
I have compiled a few pointers that can be helpful for teenage workers, to assist them get their hands onto fully legit paid online surveys, and more importantly to identify those who really pay in cash.
However, before you check out this stuff, let’s get started with certain survey panels that have no restriction (with free registration) to youngsters, who can start from 6 years up:
Best Paid Survey Sites for Teenagers
1. MySurvey
MySurvey.com is my top pick simply because it is among the largest online market research companies, on international scale.
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The website does not specifically put aside a separate section targeting teenagers, but their surveys are open to all above 13 years old of age.
So you have as good a chance as anybody who may be more senior to participate in all their online surveys.
2. Global Test Market
This is another established name in the industry that has no qualm in opening its door to anyone age 14 and above.
It is well entrenched in the industry and boasts of partnership with over 1200 companies (both large and small). As a result, there are lots of surveys to be filled here.
The company usually gets in touch with potential survey takers through email invitation.
3. SurveySavvy
According to the website, this survey company has some over 1 million subscribed members.
Registration is free and SurveySavvy arguably offers the best rate on the Internet for survey takers.
If you are serious about chalking up some serious cash doing survey, this is it.
4. Ipsos i-Say
The company’s policy is that anybody can start participating in any of its survey so long he or she is of at least 14 years old.
This is another good paymaster (plenty of survey that pays $15 up).
The company would compensate you in gift cards, prizes and (of course) cash in return of completed survey.
5. VIP Voice
They have lots of surveys for 13 years old and up.
6. Kidz Eyes
As the name implies, Kidz Eyes is a marketing research company targeting those from age range 6 -12 year old. Established since 1959, it is owned by the reputable C & R Research.
There is a fun theme underlying all their surveys and those young chaps would be thrilled with the interactive nature of individual survey.
Points are disbursed for every survey completion and redemption begins at 1,000 points ($10 in check form).
7. Toluna
Starting age at Toluna is 13 years.
Survey participants are rewarded with points, which can be converted into cash and pay out through check.
Plenty of surveys targeted at kids.
8. MyView
Starting age at MyView is 14.
It rewards points for surveys completed. Points can be redeemed for cash (pay to visa card) and Amazon gift certificates and prizes.
9. Valued Opinions
Valued Opinions is for those age 13 and above.
A couple of compensation options: cash(visa prepaid cards) or Amazon gift certificates.
Teenage members need to have parents’ consent before registration here.
10. E-Poll (epollsurveys.com)
Starting age at E-Poll is at least 13 years old. Please note the site also sends the surveys to your parents.
11. SpringBoard America
Starting age at SpringBoard America is at least 14 years old. Cash based reward system payable through either check or PayPal.
Payout threshold here is $50.
12. MindField Online
Starting age at MindField Online is at least 14 years old.
Compensation is payable through cash (check/PayPal) or Amazon gift certificates.
13. American Consumer Opinion
A point based survey panel with international focus.
All members must be at least 14 years old and they offer plenty of surveys for teens and kids.
14. Harris Poll
Harris Poll employs a HIPoints reward system for surveys participants. HIPoints can be redeemed for Amazon and other gift cards and prizes.
Membership starts strictly from 13 years old up.
15. Focus Forward
Focus Forward employs cash reward system (pays through check).
The work here represents a mixture of online surveys and online focus groups.
Membership starts strictly from 13 years old up.
16. Cadacabeza Hispanic
Cadacabeza Hispanic employs points based reward system, redeemable for cash via Check only.
Membership is restricted to USA Hispanic Only (Spanish or English Speaking) and age can start anywhere from 6 onwards
17. Testspin
Membership here starts strictly from 13 years old up.
18. PollBuzzer Panel
Open to any US/Canada resident age 13 years and above. Cash reward system pay via PayPal.
19. PanelPolls
Yet another site that caters for kids in 6 – 17 year old range.
Reward system is point based and redeemed through check (in cash, after conversion).
20. YouGov
They accept members 14 and up.
You earn points for every survey you take.
You can then convert your earned points to cash, and gift cards from brands like Amazon, iTunes and other popular brands.
How it Works?
Economists and market observers have long argued that the teenage demographic collectively perhaps represent the single biggest consumer group when it comes to certain industries.
Here is an interesting article on how teens as consumers have shaped advertising and marketing in today’s economy.
They are deep into technology stuff like video game consoles, iPhones and cell phones. And their fascination with music, clothing and gadgets in general are well documented.
As a result, increasingly more businesses and market research companies are recruiting teenagers to conduct online paid surveys targeted on teenage market so as to distill valuable insights from this important consumer group.
Such insights could be critical to businesses, as accurate reading of the latest market fad, popular culture, how teenagers consume products and service in general, would allow companies to tweak or develop their products to make them better aligned with the expectation of this targeted market.
For this reason, certain research companies like My Survey actively seek out teenage members as they gather these critical data through membership registration and paid surveys participation.
Types of Surveys
There are a few types of work to be found at these websites, which includes opinion surveys and product testing.
- Product Testing
Companies make use of test market survey to have an early gauge on how responsive the market is on their offerings, and how much values teenagers (and their parents) attach to them. Essentially, the product is sent to the teenagers for testing purpose and recipients are required to participate in a related survey at the end of the trial. - Opinion Surveys
Online surveys are targeted at teens to poll their feedback on a wide variety of subjects; they may range from sports to hobbies, as well as personal interests. Such surveys are straightforward in nature and often don’t take long to complete (seldom more than 20 minutes).
Rewards & Payment
There are sets of legislations in place with regards to market research industry and child employment.
For example, companies are forbidden by law to make direct cash payments to teen survey participants.
In addition, COPPA (the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) bars online research companies to take in any direct members who are below 13 years of age for survey participation purpose.
In light of such restrictions, naturally the reward system for this industry is biased towards points system, or kids would be awarded points for every survey completion.
Thankfully, there is flexibility in that usually the points can be redeemed for cash and other prizes like electronic gadgets or computer games as one hit the preset cash out threshold.
There are also some sites that insist on parental consent (via an online form) to undertake that they take full responsibilities for the child’s online activities.
For parents who are familiar with online paid survey work, it would be beneficial for them to guide their kids on legit teen surveys for monetary rewards.
How Surveys Compare to Other Online Jobs for Teenagers?
Kids get all excited when faced with a prospect of landing a job as that means extra pocket money. But if you don’t fancy setting up a roadside stall selling lemonade or working as a part time gardener, then you could turn to the web for online work opportunities.
Of course, the biggest draw of online work is that one can work from the comfort of his or her home, while making a decent earning by completing simple tasks.
But keep in mind that this job opportunity may be restricted as certain online jobs are off limit to teenagers, as they prefer more mature workers or they could be constraint by legislation.
But don’t feel despair, the internet world is huge.
Even with the restriction, one can still find plenty of online work specifically targeting teens; they include freelance writing, graphic design and proofreading.
In my opinion, the one that top my list is paid survey work.
However, that does not mean that the work involved is effortless and easy, so don’t get the wrong idea.
Consistent with other work, paid online surveys demand strict discipline on your end. In other words, you will have to commit time and effort, and dedicate your full attention as you tackle the individual survey.
Let me reinforce the fact that no one is going to become rich by taking online paid surveys. Subject to the duration and effort required to tackle any survey, the payout tends to fall in the range of $5-$15 per completed survey.
Since the market rate for part time work is about $8 per hour, you should set your goal to be able to complete at least one online survey in every hour, otherwise there are other job options that may make more sense, at least in the monetary sense.
But if you are serious in making online paid surveys work for you, there shouldn’t be any problem chalking up enough earnings (to at least match what your friends earn with traditional jobs).
Additionally, there are also other inherent advantages as compared to traditional teenage jobs, namely you work anytime you like, and anywhere you want.
A Word with Parents
While some parents may keep a tight rein on their child’s web activities, some never even bother. I agree that there are some dark corners in the Internet, so some level of parental monitoring may not sound like a bad idea.
However, doing honest paid online surveys should not get your alarm ringing. Most of these are above board and straightforward, and they often require just a minimum amount of your child’s attention to complete (within 5 to 10 minutes).
Never be over-bearing as you see your kid indulge some spare time tackling online surveys as the time commitment tends to be minimum (and won’t get into the way of study time).
If you want to be more involved, then help your kid to search for legit survey companies. Sadly, there are too many tricksters who take advantage of the popularity of internet and try to con people money, and that applies to this industry as well!
Additionally, some personal information is required at the time of registration with these websites. So, you may want to educate your child about some sensitive information so that he or she would not inadvertently give it away during signing up.
Takeaway
There will always be decent paying jobs for teenagers out there. But online jobs provide the most flexibility as kids set their own job schedule and work from home.
In essence, paid survey work could be the more satisfying among the many online jobs as it combines fun and flexibility into one package for teens (this applies to adults as well).
They would be able to earn some extra cash by offering their truthful opinions on subjects they are familiar with. That means online surveys for money are the perfect part time job for teens 18 and under.
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