Cell Phones Key to Teens’ Social Lives, 47% Can Text with Eyes Closed
Nearly half (47%) of US teens say their social life would end or be worsened without their cell phone, and nearly six in 10 (57%) credit their mobile device with improving their life, according to a national survey from CTIA and Harris Interactive.
Four out of five teens (17 million) carry a wireless device (a 40% increase since 2004), finds the study titled “Teenagers: A Generation Unplugged,” which probes how the growing teen wireless segment is using wireless products and how they want to use them in the future.
Impact on Teen Life
- A majority (57%) of teens view their cell phone as the key to their social life.
- Second only to clothing, teens say, a person’s cell phone tells the most about their social status or popularity, outranking jewelry, watches and shoes.
Providing Entertainment and Security
- More than half of the respondents (52%) agree that the cell phone has become a new form of entertainment.
- One-third of teens play games on their phone.
- 80% say their cell phone provides a sense of security while on the go, confirming that the cell phone has become their mobile safety net when needing a ride (79%), getting important information (51%), or just helping out someone in trouble (35%).
- Teens carry cell phones to have access to friends, family and current events.
- Though only one in five (18%) teens care to pinpoint the location of their family and friends via their cell phone, 36% hate the idea of a cell phone feature that allows others to know their exact location.
Texting Replacing Talking
The study also confirmed that texting is replacing talking among teens. Teens admitted spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month. The feature is so important to them that if texting were no longer an option 47% of teens say their social life would end or be worsened - that’s especially so among females (54% vs. 40%).
Teens say texting has advantages over talking because it offers more options, including multitasking, speed, the option to avoid verbal communication, and because it is fun - in that order, according to the study.
With more than 1 billion text messages sent each day, it is no surprise that 42% of teens say they can text blindfolded, the study found.
“Teens have created a new form of communication. We call it texting, but in essence it is a reflection of how teens want to communicate to match their lifestyles. It is all about multitasking, speed, privacy and control,” said Joseph Porus, VP & chief architect, Technology Group, Harris Interactive. “Teens in this study are crying for personalization and control of exactly what a wireless device or plan can do for them.”
Devices of the Future
The survey asked teens what future changes they’d like to see in wireless services and devices and found that respondents want cell phones that break boundaries and are personalized to fit their lifestyles.
Teens remain excited and openminded about the wireless possibilities and their ideal future mobile devices would feature five applications - phone, MP3 player, GPS, laptop computer and video player, according to Harris.
Also on teens’ wish lists are phones that…
- Guarantee secured data access to the user only (80%)
- Provide accessibility to personal health records (66%)
- Present opportunities to be educated anywhere in the world (66%)
- Bring users closer to global issues impacting teens’ world (63%)
- Are shockproof and waterproof (81%)
- Have endless power (80%)
- Feature a privacy screen (58%)
- Are made of flexible material and fold into different shapes and sizes (39%)
- Have artificial intelligence - ask it questions and it gives answers (38%)
“In the future, mobility for teens means mobile banking, mobile voting, location based services, personal entertainment - the sky is the limit for how mobile our lifestyles can be,” said Steve Largent, president and CEO, CTIA - The Wireless Association. “We’ve certainly come a long way in 25 years and expect teens to be a growth driver for the industry and have a major impact on the wireless landscape for years to come.”
About the study: The study was conducted online in July 2008 among a nationally representative sample of 2,089 teenagers (age 13-19) across the US who have cell phones. More than 100 questions were asked on mobile phone usage, attitudes, behaviors, and teens’ desires and aspirations for the future of mobile communications, entertainment, and other features.
The thing I find extremely funny is the way addilts treat peolple under 20 as test subjects. It’s like you feel that teens are some sort of alien creatures. I do agree it’s a bit outrageous that some people van text with they’re eyes closed, but does that give you the right to put a generalization on a group of teenagers that you tested? There is no possible way you conducted a survey with every single teenager from around the country that has a cell phone. Sure we have flaws, but guess what adults aren’t that perfect either. Hey sure teen behavior has drifted away from the “golden days” of your youth but why are you blaming us? First of all parents have a huge role in the way they’re children behave. They either give a care of they don’t. Oh and the whole thing about a cell phone being a teens socail life is only true for all those shallow people out there that don’t really have a life. Yet anyway you take things out of context and pentalize teenagers. I say if a parent is to give they’re child a phone thats a good thing. They just have to show responsibility. Not all teens have a cell phone especially not as many as your statistics say. Once you realize this is the technology that adults created. You will know it’s not our fault that you made some if us so stupid.
~Aaron
-Sent from my iPod Touch
It’s not just teens who enjoy texting. I’m 31 and think texting > talking because it’s quick and private.
Actually, research has shown that increased use on cell phones, especially texting, decreases social skills. Now whether that is because the definition of social skills is out dated, and needs adjustment, or because it is true, is up to you to decide. Texting is becoming a new way of communicating. There’s really no way of denying it. However, OmegaWolf747 is correct; texting isn’t just for teens. The general population is using texting more and more as an effective means of communication. This article is simply reporting on that fact.
P.S. Statistics are statistics. They fact that they say 17 million teens have cell phones are because 17 million do.
Teens are not some sort of test creatures. Teenage is a time when peers become friends important than family but that isn’t the breakdown of social fabric.Its the parents who first give a cell-phone and then raise a hue and cry over it
to aaron:
have you ever heard of a sample size, obviously they dont test every teen that would be costly and a waste of time, if you have a normally distributed population you can easily extrapolate info from a small(ish) sample. How do you think neilson determines how many people watch each tv show or how pollsters predict how many people are voting for each candidate…
haha this article was interesting and useful to a paper for my college paper..i see where aaron is coming from but i have to agree with the article as well. yay for tony, that was a good rebuttal! haha
Terms and the way we live change over time. You should be less concerned with the following generations habits and start fixing the things that you’re leaving in your wake for us. Very nice read though.
I loved this information! Thanks! (I’m using it on my paper.)
i kind of agree with Aaron about the whole blaming it on teens but teens arent the only ones who have been affected by it. me being 14 and having a 38 yr old mom i know this because my mom is non stop texting. but this info was useful for my project
This was really helpful for a paper I was writing. I think texting is fun and everything, as I am a teenager myself, but I think it has become a crutch for many. That’s unfortunate but it happens.
This really helped with a paper i have to do for school. I am almost 13 and i don’t actually text that much, but writing this I find messing up on the letters because I am so accustommed to my Blackberry’s keys and the auto correct!
This is useful information, for staticts this is great for my final in college!
i think that all these facts are very interesting. but aaron’s right about a few things. it’s not only teenagers that text. one of my brothers is a legal adult and he texts, IMs, and does everything on his phone, and so does my oldest sister. my mother is also non stop texting, and making phone calls. but i mean, it’s not all the parents fault. like yeah, they get their kids the cell phones, maybe give them unlimited texting, but it’s their decision to use it as much as they do.
yup that’s right .. its not always teens who are addicted to cellphones .. but i admit i’m one of those teens .. tnx 4 d site .. I’ll put some datas for my thesis ..
I think that’s right. But not only teens but also adults are addicted to cell phones.
*raises hand* One of those teens who can text blindfolded…
wow
i am a teenager, and i text alot, i could go through 6,000 texts per month, but my mum texts alot of the time too.
i think that teenagers text ALOT more than adults because most adults decide to call people unlike most teens that just text all the time.
oh and i reakon that texting IS a part of our social life, if your friends dont live in the same town as you then you can easily catch up and ask them how they are, i think that texting is apart of our social life and its NOT for the people that dont have a life, and NO we are not shallow!
I understand that you all are upset about the fact that this article just addressed the texting “issue” to teens, but i just have to say that i’m sure that if they did the same experiment or test on adults, they would find the same thing and if not, they wouldn’t fall much shorter. the difference is, more adults do (or should) have a job. i’ll say that 80% of teens don’t. (just a guess) this may make it seem like we don’t necessarily have anything better to do than text. in some cases, it does affect school work and social lives, but not very drastically for most people my age. I am a teen myself and i have unlimited texting. i do my fair share of it as well. i can text with my eyes closed, but it’s not like that means texting is taking over my social life or anything insane like that. i also believe that there are people that text WAY TOO MUCH. i’ve heard stories of mostly teens that text like, a million a month and other crazy things! that’s absolutely rediculous. other than that, i think that what a lot of the “older people,” no offense, don’t understand is that texting is pretty new technology. like anything else, it will get used more and more until something new comes out. like the computer and other technology. texting and new phones may seem like a problem because they make everything more accessible. just my thoughts
I found this information so useful for an essay I’m writing, thanks so much. I also want to know about safety threats with cell phones in school.
I too am writing a paper on txting while driving. This is good background. I have found many txting while driving alternativ apps that allow the responsible teen to keep both hands and both eyes on the wheel. Does anyone have any suggestions? -J
One of those articles that potentially leave parents wondering what happened to personal interaction. I guess times do change, though I feel as the adults in the equation, it is our responsibility to try to establish a balance as well as communicate about both party’s concerns. I feel we do still have a certain degree of control (especially if we are footing the bill) and one way we managed to keep some of this control in our family, is to have them on a prepaid package. In this way, as their needs change and if they prove their responsibility, we can “upgrade” their choices without being tied into a contract. Another benefit of this is we never have the worry of shock bills (Straight Talk offers us an affordable $30 plan) and when their 1000 minutes and texts are up, they’re up!
this website was very interesting and i think that 47% of kids probably can text because texting has taken over more then 75% of the united states…this was very helpful for my paper
im using this on a paper i can text with my eyes closed
wow i really liked this I am a teen and I dont have a phone because I dont want that to happen to me and i am only 14 so I am happy I dont have a phone
this is very useful and helped me alot with my school work …thanks alot
Hey people, did you know that reading text messages can increase the brain’s linguistic department’s flexibility? I mean, I’ve never seen ‘tnx’ as a ‘thanks’ before, but it took me barely a second to get it. (I’ve seen ‘thx, thks, thnx, shankyuu etc) I also read another article about txt language not changing our (teen’s) english, but as sort of another language (I mean, throughout my whole comment, I’ve turned down numerous opportunities to sub proper words for shorter ones).
P.S Ever considered that txt messaging and the shortened language that comes with it is beneficial for your taking notes faster when the teacher’s talking too fast?
P.S.S Thanks, I needed the stats for my assignment! =D
this is very useful.
“tnx”?????? tinx??? right…. anyway… what about IM? IM is computer texting? that’s how I picked up the txtn lngage…. lol! anyway… I don’t text… it is not worth it. I see all my friends that I would text very often, sooo I have no reason to text. and did I mention that I am homeschooled, and I, and all of my friends, contrary to popular belief, ACTUALLY HAVE SOCIAL SKILLS… anyway… great site… and thanks for reading me!
Not sure why so many are getting upset. The article never passes judgment on teens, in fact they clearly state that teens are the future and this is way culture is moving. I didn’t see anything that said it was bad. Only what was happening.
Excellent article.
I think its important for everyone to understand that statistics are a generalization taken from a large quantity of data. In the United States, some people who are able to vote for president may never do so a day in their life but there is still a president to represent what the majority of voters want. I understand that some are upset about the results of the data but realize that the title of this article says 47%, not all. I’m sure the person who conducted this research used a rather large number of participants. If you have any doubt about the research methods used for this poll check out: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/MethodsTools/DataCollection/SpecialtyPanelsPanelDevelopment/Youth.aspx
This information might have had a study to it, but, as others have said, it’s not just teens addicted to phones. I myself am a teen and send an average of 200 a day, but I know for a fact my 27 year old sister sends way more than I do and does much more on her phone. That and you have to put into account the little kids that want phones. I was in the store and remember a 7 year old begging for a phone. The blame shouldn’t all be on teens.
I agree with everyone that says texting isn’t all teens. because really it isn’t. my mom texts more then me when she gets service. adults (parents) are the ones who invented the phone in the first place. they are the ones who gave the phones to there kids or teens. but either way most adults text just as much as teens. It isn’t ruining a teens social life unless the person is shallow and irresponsible.
i think texting while driving is very dangerous , but when you are stopped at a light or at a stop sign then i think that is ok.
also, teens arent the only ones that text , my 37 year old mother texts. and my grandma texts also. so its not just all teens that text.
I am a teen and have never met a teenager who prefers texting to talking.If texting is used to improve social lives then obviously we(the teenagers) go out. So then how can texting lead to a lack of social skills? If this study is suggesting that teenagers shoudn’t text, then what do the suggest we do? its convenient and now just a part of life.
wow, I see alot of worried parents in here, and I’m one of them… see one of my girls is already 14 and she wanted a cellphone so bad, so after reveiwing options I got her a Straight Talk at walmart, the truth is that a prepaid phone is the only way to go with a teen.
I’m doing my science fair on technology/health/kids and this is very interesting… I had a phone, lost it, and got a new one last month, and I rarely use it other than to call my mum if I’m walking home from school…
I actually wanted to research the impact of the cellphones on the age/aging population but found this article instead - very interesting. However, has anybody found or did you in your research find or explored the impact of texting on teens’ ability to spell. In light of the abbreviations and codes used in texting, I believe it is relevant. Further, I wish teens would not be so defensive but recognize that it is a fleeting stage - a point in time on the continuum of life. It is important to understand the connection with the technology at that stage in the life cycle as well as the other stages.
I am doing a report for english and i thought that doing it on how cell phones impact teenage lives whether baad or good. but so far i have only found bad things on cell phones. I know that me having one helps with my social life and the fact i feel safer with it. I know that teens use the cell phones for grated and sext and send things they should not be sending.
hey im a teen and can use 2000 texts in 3 days but whats the harm in that?
They study teens so they call sell you stuff. Do you really think you are that important that they just want to “study” you? HA. They just want your money. You are a “target demographic” and nothing more. Money, money, money. That’s all. Get over yourselves.
Texting is a very addicting thing for teenagers. They text way more then they should and texting has taking a huge tool on our spelling habits. I am one of those teenagers who text a lot, and I find myself doing at least 10,000 a month. I find it hard for me to not text back when I get a message, but that’s how our generation is these days. We have changde from they way our parents have been. The scientists who have been taking the studies for this article grew up in a different time, they had other ways to fill their time, but us teenagers these days use their technology. If they have a problem with our texting then why are they finding new ways for us to text. Teenagers these days text and if they don’t like how we spend our time, then don’t create new ways for us to text.
This is just way too crazy, i just had an assignment to go without technology for a single day and i couldnt do it! though these phones are cool, i think they are handicappping us from what is important!
NO teen not old enough to Drive a car Has a cell phone in my house, and any teen Old enough to drive, has VERY LIMITED usage including texting.. when all else fails take the phone away, and if they don’t like it,, they can get the Hell out of the house and live in a Park.
What links can I get to other cell phone websites?
I think this is very useful information. I also agree with it. I am 15(10th grade) and I don’t have a phone at the moment but I know a lot of other peers that do and they use them nonstop. Thank you for the information, I need it for my research paper.
thanks, for all of this info. im going to use it for my i-search report! (:
Thanks for this info I am going to use it in my book on teenage and adult texting addiction: What you need to know
i agree with every one here one way or another, however i feel that both adults and teenagers need a phone, and use them as much as each other at times, thats how i feel it works, thanks all this really helped me
Its crazy! Cell phones these days! I dont text near as much as my friends, but i still text, and I’ll admit it does make life easier at some points. Although I must say, this IS some of the parents fault…they’re the ones paying for and supporting the ‘unlimited texting’. I pay my own phone bill, and I can afford unlimited, so I have it. People need to look around and realized whats going on. espcially some of the parents out there who buy their kids new iPhones and cant really afford them…
This article helped me alot for my research report.its not all true but it does has some good points and it was funny as well.