Tweens and Teens Use Smartphones Differently Than Adults Do

11/15/13

Texting is the most common activity performed on smartphones among tweens and teens ages 8-18 who own these devices, while making calls is the most widely performed activity among adult smartphone owners, according to Harris Interactive. Tween and teen girls are more likely than their male peers to use their smartphones for taking photos (92% of girls do so regularly, compared with 80% of boys). Girls are also more likely than boys to use their smartphones for listening to music (84% vs. 76%), social media activities (76% vs. 69%), and sharing photos with others (69% vs. 57%). Boys are more likely than girls to play games on their smartphones regularly (83% vs. 73%).

Almost six in 10 parents (57%) of tweens and teens with smartphones say they occasionally check their kids’ smartphones to monitor their activities, but only 43% of tweens and teens who have smartphones think their parents do this. One in four parents (25%) say they occasionally use their kids’ smartphones to track their location, and 20% of tweens and teens say their parents track them this way. About four in 10 tweens and teens (41%) say their parents have disciplined them by taking away their smartphones, and 37% of parents say they’ve done so. Fewer than one in 10 tweens and teens say they paid at least half of the purchase price of their smartphones (7%) or pay half or more of their monthly access fees (6%).

Tween and teen girls are more likely than their male peers to admit to sending or receiving text messages while in class, while boys are more likely to admit to sending or receiving sexually suggestive messages on their smartphones.

Almost half of young Americans ages 8-18 (46%) own smartphones, as do the majority of adults ages 18 and older. Another 24% of tweens and teens own feature phones.

SOURCE: “Harris Poll #73,” October 17, 2013, Harris Interactive, 60 Corporate Woods, Rochester, NY 14623; 585-272-8400; info@harrisinteractive.com; www.harrisinteractive.com.

© 2013 Business Valuation Resources, LLC (BVR). May not be reproduced without written consent of publisher.

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