4/5/2013
Almost eight in 10 U.S. teens ages 12-17 (78%) have cell phones; 47% of these have smart phones, according to the Pew Research Center. Overall, 37% of teens have smart phones, compared with 45% of all U.S. adults. Black (40%) and Hispanic (43%) teens are more likely than white non-Hispanic teens (35%) to have smart phones (note: race/ethnicity determined by that of parents).
Almost three-quarters of teens (74%) have mobile Internet access; a quarter (25%) access it mostly via mobile, compared to 15% of adults overall. Black non-Hispanic teens (33%) are more likely than their white (24%) or Hispanic (21%) peers to go online primarily via mobile. Half of teens who own smart phones (50%) access the Internet mostly via mobile.
Nearly all teens (93%) have computer access at home, but the majority of these (71%) share the computer they use most often with other family members. Younger teens (ages 12-13) are more likely to rely on shared computers than those ages 14-17 (81% vs. 66%). By age 17, only 51% of teens share their computers with other members of the family. More than a fifth of teens (23%) have tablets, compared to 25% of U.S. adults.
Teens who live in urban (42%) or suburban (39%) areas are much more likely than those living in rural areas (19%) to own smart phones, but there’s little difference in tablet ownership by geographic location. As with adults, teens from households with incomes of $75,000 or more are much more likely than those from lower income households to own tablets. Household income has less effect on computer ownership except among teens whose families have annual incomes of less than $30,000.
Source: “Teens and Technology 2013,” March 2013, Pew Research Center, Mary Madden, senior researcher, Pew Internet Project, 1615 L St., NW, #700, Washington, DC 20036; 202-419-4500; info@pewinternet.org; www.pewinternet.org. Price: Available online at no charge.
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