Nearly ninety percent of US teenagers have internet access, making this generation of 12-17 year olds the most connected ever.

The figure of 87 percent is up 24 percent on internet use levels four years ago, according to the survey conducted by Pew Internet and American Life. The survey also found that internet use among US adults had risen to 66 percent, up from 55 percent in 2000.

US teens' internet use has deepened and broaded, as they log on more regularly and do more on the web than four years ago. Around half of those with online access claim they go online every day. Sectors showing a significant increase include online gaming, news, online shopping and searches for health information. 76 percent of teenagers read the news online.

Teens are also demonstrating an ability to hop between technologies for different types of communication. Email use appears to have levelled off, as youngsters use it more and more to communicate with the adult world of schools, parents and local authorities. It also remains useful for sending detailed information to large groups of friends. However, Instant Messaging (IM) and text messaging on mobile phones have become the method of choice for teens communicating with friends. Nearly a third of all US teenagers use IM every day.

Older girls (15-17) are the group's real "power users", driving the growth in information searching and communications uses. They tend to have a wider range of online activities than younger teens or their male equivalents.

The survey shows that today's teens are increasingly wired and tech-savvy: They take internet connections, online news and the "wired world" of portable phones, broadband and PDAs for granted - some claiming that they don't know what they'd do without their internet connection. They have an instinctive grasp of which technology best suits different purposes. They expect to be able to be in constant communication with their peers and can switch between technologies best suited for various locations, times and social scenarios.

Printer friendly version
Email this article to a friend

Related links

• Pew Internet and American Life