How much are kids using media?
The total amount of media use by youth ages 8 to 18 averages 6-plus hours a day—more than any other activity.
The amount of use has increased significantly, up from 4-plus hours in the last five years.
Eighty percent of adolescents possess at least one form of media access.
There is extensive multi-tasking associated with media use (instant messaging while doing homework and listening to music on an mp3 player, for example).
Of particular concern is the amount of TV kids consume. From 2004 to 2009, television and video use averaged three to five hours per day, peaking between the ages of 11 and 14, a crucial period for kids' social development.
Fifty-four percent of teens send text messages, and one third of teens send more than 100 text messages per day.
One third talk face-to-face with friends, around the same percentage that talk on cell phones (38 percent) and land lines (30 percent).
Twenty-four percent communicate with friends via instant messages.
Twenty-five percent contact friends via social networking sites.
Eleven percent use e-mail.
Beneficial information for teachers regarding ELL students.
