A recent report of research conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals that the number of teenagers using the internet has grown 24% in the past four years and 87% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 are online. This report, as many others the Pew group has released, explores the impact of the internet on children, families, communities, the work place, schools, health care, and civic/political life. The Project aims to be an authoritative source on the evolution of the internet through collection of data and analysis of real-world developments as they affect the virtual world, the researchers say. Support for the non-profit Pew Internet Project is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The Project is an initiative of the Pew Research Center. The project has a website.

The November 2004 survey of 1,100 youth between the ages of 12 and 17
and their parents, “Teens and Technology”, revealed that:

Not only has the number of users increased, but also the variety of
technologies that teens use to support their communication, research,
and entertainment desires has grown. When asked about their individual ownership of networked devices such as desktop and laptop computers, cell phones, and blackberries, 84% of teens reported owning at least one of these devices. Some 45% of teens have their own cells phones and many own several devices that can connect to the internet.

…

Leading the way are older teenaged girls, who are putting burgeoning technologies to use to support their already honed communication styles. Girls ages 15-17-year-old are the power users of the online teen cohort. Older girls dominate in use of email, IM, text messaging, and selected information-seeking activities.

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