This document summarizes research from a Pew Internet survey on teens' use of the internet and communication technologies. It finds that while many commonly held beliefs about teens and technology are exaggerated or untrue, social networking is increasingly popular among teens with 73% using sites like Facebook. However, not all teens have access, with digital divides still existing along socioeconomic lines. Overall, the report suggests teens' internet use is diverse and changing, with cell phones becoming a primary access point and content creation remaining steady but shifting platforms.

1. Teens, the Internet, and Communication Technology A Pew Internet guide to online teens Kristen Purcell Pew Internet & American Life Project YALSA Pre-Conference June 25, 2010 Washington, DC

2. Methods 800 teens ages 12 to 17 and a parent or guardian were contacted by landline or cellular telephone in a nationally representative RDD survey conducted from June to September 2009 9 focus groups in four cities with middle and high school aged teens (ages 12-18) conducted in June and October 2009 Joint project of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and the University of Michigan. Data from adult surveys from Sept 2009 & January 2010

3. What are teens really doing online? Commonly held beliefs about teens and technology: All teens use the internet Every teen has a cell phone…and all teens text unimaginably large numbers of messages a day Teens have been supplanted by older adults on social networks Teens love Twitter Teens are active creators of content online

4. ALL TEENS USE THE INTERNET

8. Digital Diversity Teen internet access highest among teens with… White parents College-educated parents Annual household incomes above $50,000 Same pattern exists for high-speed access High-speed connection means greater engagement in online activities

11. EVERY TEEN HAS A CELL PHONE

17. … AND TEENS SEND AND RECEIVE AN UNIMAGINABLY LARGE NUMBER OF TEXTS EVERY DAY

24. TEENS HAVE BEEN SUPPLANTED BY ADULTS ON SOCIAL NETWORKS

27. TEENS LOVE TWITTER

28. Twitter

30. TEENS CREATE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF CONTENT ONLINE

35. WHAT ARE TEENS REALLY DOING ONLINE?

36. Summary of Teen Online Activities 73% of online teens use SNS (up 50%) 14% blog (down 50%) 8% use Twitter 8% visit online virtual worlds 38% share content online (steady) 21% remix content (steady) 62% get news about current events and politics 48% buy things online 31% get health, dieting, fitness info 17% get info about sensitive health topics

37. Trends in Teen Connectivity Not all teens are online – SES matters Cell phones leapfrog connectivity roadblocks for low income, minority teens (and adults) Changes suggest a move towards mobile internet access Teens are not monolithic, a multi-pronged approach might be most effective

38. Thanks! Kristen Purcell http://www.pewinternet.org Twitter: @kristenpurcell