Teenagers and cell phones

A new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that 71% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 had a cell phone as of early 2008. That rate was up from 63% in the fall of 2006 and up over the 45% in 2004.

In comparison, 77% of all adults (and 88% of parents) had a cell phone or other mobile device at a similar point in 2008.

“Cell phone ownership among adults has since risen to 85%, based on the results of our most recent tracking survey of adults conducted in April 2009. The Project is currently conducting a survey of teens and their parents and will be releasing the new figures in early 2010,” Pew noted in this report.

OTHER FINDINGS
• As of 2008:
77% of teens own a game console like an Xbox or a PlayStation;
74% of teens own an iPod or mp3 player;
60% of teens “own” a desktop or laptop computer; and
55% of teens own a portable gaming device.

• “Among teens, age is the most important variable in mobile phone ownership. Older teens are much more likely to own phones than younger teens, and the largest increase occurs at age 14, right at the transition between middle and high school.”

• Among 12-13 year olds, 52% had a cell phone in 2008. Cell phone ownership jumped to 72% at age 14 in that survey, and by the age of 17 more than eight in 10 teens (84%) had their own cell phone.

• 94% of teen cell phone owners have used their mobile phones to call friends and 76% have sent text messages.

• 87% of teenage cell phone users still talk to their friends on landlines (home phones).

• About one in three teens (29%) spend time with friends in person outside of school on a daily basis.