left
right
CHART CLOSE-UP FROM THE STORY:
Teens Choose Reality Over Virtual Reality - Sometimes »
scroll down to read the full story
otx-teens-dating.jpg

Teens Choose Reality Over Virtual Reality - Sometimes

Some 58% of teens sacrifice watching TV for going on dates, with web surfing (54%), playing videogames (47%), and listening to music (42%) taking hits as well, according to the Teen Topix survey from OTX (Online Testing eXchange) and partner eCRUSH.

The study surveyed 750 13-17-year-old teens across the country to about their attitudes toward socializing - to assess what’s important to them, their behaviors, and their outlook on life.

otx-teens-dating.jpg

Some findings from the study:

  • Teens don’t always select reality over virtual reality. When teens go out on those dates, they’re eschewing free options like cruising (53%) or school events (53%) for the marketing-laden options of movie theaters (87%), malls (64%) and restaurants (58%).
  • When it comes to rules of dating, gender differences become clear: while 66% of all teens say their parents impose dating rules, only 49% of boys are subjected to rules, compared with 83% of girls.
  • As to the rules of attraction, jocks, bad boys, and adventure seekers rule the hearts of today’s teens:
    • 31% of teens said they’re attracted to “jocks” such as Nathan on the CW’s One Tree Hill or Claire on NBC’s Heroes.
    • 30% of girls also prefer “bad boys” like Michael on Fox’s Prison Break.
    • 28% of boys like adventurous women such as Veronica on the CW’s Veronica Mars.

Future Teen Topix studies are scheduled to focus on topics such as a summer movie wrap-up, teen buzz for the new fall TV shows, and holiday shopping plans.

TODAY'S MARKETINGCHARTS STORIES

Politics, Holidays Drive Top 50 Web Properties in October

The US presidential election, Halloween and the approaching holiday season were the most significant drivers of Internet...

Industrial Marketing Budgets Grow, Shift Online

Marketers at industrial companies spent a greater portion of their marketing budget online in 2008 than last year,...

Commerce Dept: Retail E-Commerce Outpaces Total Retail in Q3

US retail e-commerce sales for the third quarter of 2008, adjusted for seasonal variation but not for price...

Online Consumers to Spend Less in Stores for Holidays

Online consumers intend to spend less in stores during this holiday season than last, but slightly more online...

Top 10 Blog and Personal Websites - October 2008

Note: The Hitwise data featured is based on US market share of visits as defined by the IAB,...