Teens and Mobile Phones

A Pew Internet and American Life Project report released April 20, 2010 provides data on how young people are using cell phones. Teens and Mobile Phones is based on a 2009 survey of 800 youth ages 12-17 and their parents. 

The Findings in Brief

• Text messaging is the preferred method of communication between teens and their friends.
• Calling with a cell phone is the preferred method of communication between teens and their parents. 
• Girls use their cell phones for text messaging and calling their friends more than boys do.
• Though most schools ban cell phones, teens continue to text in class.
• Generally, parental regulation does not impact the patterns of teen cell phone use.
• Teens from low-income households are more likely to use a cell phone to go online than other teens.
• Both teens and parents note conflicts related to cell phone use and regulation.
• One-third of teens ages 16-17 have texted while driving.

 Open PIP-Teens-and-Mobile-2010-with-topline.pdf