Teens and Mobile Phones An Overview of Pew Internet Data Amanda Lenhart Keeping Kids Safe in a Mobile Environment FOSI April 22, 2009

Methodology RDD surveys with teens 12 to 17 and a parent or guardian Sept-Nov 2007 (n=700) Nov-Feb 2008 (n=1102) Focus groups

RDD surveys with teens 12 to 17 and a parent or guardian

Sept-Nov 2007 (n=700)

Nov-Feb 2008 (n=1102)

Focus groups

Teens and their tools 77% of teens 12-17 own a game console 74% of teens 12-17 own an iPod or Mp3 player 71% of teens 12-17 own a cell phone 60% have a desktop or laptop computer 55% have a portable gaming device like a DS or a PSP

77% of teens 12-17 own a game console

74% of teens 12-17 own an iPod or Mp3 player

71% of teens 12-17 own a cell phone

60% have a desktop or laptop computer

55% have a portable gaming device like a DS or a PSP

Mobile phone ownership growing Mobile phone ownership is way up: 45% of 12-17 year olds had them in 2004 63% in 2006 71% in early 2008. Computer ownership is stable at least over the past two years 88% of parents have mobile phones 75% of adults have a mobile phone Caveat: Concept of “ownership” varies from device to device

Mobile phone ownership is way up:

45% of 12-17 year olds had them in 2004

63% in 2006

71% in early 2008.

Computer ownership is stable at least over the past two years

88% of parents have mobile phones

75% of adults have a mobile phone

Caveat: Concept of “ownership” varies from device to device

Who has a mobile phone? Age is very important – huge bump up in mobile phone ownership at age 14 52% of 12-13 year olds have a mobile phone At age 14 jumps to 72% By 17 its 84% of teens have a mobile phone No gender differences in ownership No significant difference in mobile phone ownership by race/ethnicity Some differences by socio-economic status – but mostly a minor bump up in the highest income and education brackets. Internet users more likely than non users to have a cell phone – thought 50% of non-users have a phone.

Age is very important – huge bump up in mobile phone ownership at age 14

52% of 12-13 year olds have a mobile phone

At age 14 jumps to 72%

By 17 its 84% of teens have a mobile phone

No gender differences in ownership

No significant difference in mobile phone ownership by race/ethnicity

Some differences by socio-economic status – but mostly a minor bump up in the highest income and education brackets.

Internet users more likely than non users to have a cell phone – thought 50% of non-users have a phone.

Teens and phone use 88% of teens talk to friends on a landline 67% of teens talk to friends on a cell phone 94% of teens with cell phones use them to talk to friends 58% of all teens have sent text messages 76% of teens with cell phones have sent texts Daily: 51% of teens with cell phones talk to their friends on the cell phone every day 43% of teens send messages through online social networks daily 38% of teens send text messages to each other daily 32% of teens talk on their landline everyday 29% spend time with friends in person 26% send instant messages everyday 16% send email daily

88% of teens talk to friends on a landline

67% of teens talk to friends on a cell phone

94% of teens with cell phones use them to talk to friends

58% of all teens have sent text messages

76% of teens with cell phones have sent texts

Daily:

51% of teens with cell phones talk to their friends on the cell phone every day

43% of teens send messages through online social networks daily

38% of teens send text messages to each other daily

32% of teens talk on their landline everyday

29% spend time with friends in person

26% send instant messages everyday

16% send email daily

Teens and phone use: Voice Girls more likely to talk on any kind of phone – landline or mobile. Age isn’t a factor in landline use Older teens with a cell phone much more likely to talk on cell phone everyday; Younger teens with a cell phone tend to use them for voice calls a few times a week or less Suburban kids a little less likely to talk on cell phone everyday; no difference by locale in cell phone ownership.

Girls more likely to talk on any kind of phone – landline or mobile.

Age isn’t a factor in landline use

Older teens with a cell phone much more likely to talk on cell phone everyday;

Younger teens with a cell phone tend to use them for voice calls a few times a week or less

Suburban kids a little less likely to talk on cell phone everyday; no difference by locale in cell phone ownership.

Teens and text messaging Text messaging daily up since 2006 27% of teens texted daily in 2006 38% text daily in 2008 54% of social network users have sent texts or IM through a social network site. Girls more likely than boys to text Older teens 15-17 also more likely to text message. No racial/ethnic differences in texting Slight bump up in frequency of texting by income Not using twitter yet, via mobile or any other way. Not really going online w/ phone; but this is changing

Text messaging daily up since 2006

27% of teens texted daily in 2006

38% text daily in 2008

54% of social network users have sent texts or IM through a social network site.

Girls more likely than boys to text

Older teens 15-17 also more likely to text message.

No racial/ethnic differences in texting

Slight bump up in frequency of texting by income

Not using twitter yet, via mobile or any other way.

Not really going online w/ phone; but this is changing

What teens aren’t using: Likelihood of Twitter use by age

Other mobile devices Portable game players (Nintendo DS, PSP) Owned predominately by younger teens 12-14 (67% vs. 44%) Drops at age 14 Boys more likely to own (61% of boys have one, 49% of girls) No difference in use by Race/Ethnicity or SES PSP: Skype calling and IM, internet, RSS feeds DS(i): Pictochat (w/in 30-65), wireless gaming (30-65ft), WiFi gaming,

Portable game players (Nintendo DS, PSP)

Owned predominately by younger teens 12-14 (67% vs. 44%)

Drops at age 14

Boys more likely to own (61% of boys have one, 49% of girls)

No difference in use by Race/Ethnicity or SES

PSP: Skype calling and IM, internet, RSS feeds

DS(i): Pictochat (w/in 30-65), wireless gaming (30-65ft), WiFi gaming,

Thank You! Amanda Lenhart [email_address] http://www.pewinternet.org