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Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey Report 2010

Chapter 10. Teens and Technology


As most people would predict, teens in todays world use technology often. In fact,
understanding how to use technology and computers is a fundamental skill for youth to master
for their future success.
1
The 2005 PEW Internet study reported that 87% of teens in the
United States use the Internet and 51% of teens go online daily.
2
The study also reported that
of those who use the Internet, 89% send or read e-mail, 81% play games online, 69% conduct
homework and 43% buy things online.

Further research on United States teens from the 2006 PEW Internet Parents and Teens
Survey reported that parents do monitor their teens use of the computer with 68% saying they
determine the Internet sites their children can and cannot visit and 55% saying they set rules
for their childs online time.
3
However, 65% of all parents and 64% of teens say they think that
teens do things online that they would not want their parents to know about.

Recently, Common Sense Media and Benenson Strategy Group conducted over 2,000
interviews with teenagers about their cell phone use.
4
They found that eight in 10 (80%)
teenagers have cell phones. This is a 40% increase since 2004.Their research also showed
that in an average week, a teen will send 440 text messages.
According to a national survey from CTIA and Harris Interactive, nine out of ten youth send text
messages and 42% report they could send a text blindfolded. Nearly half (47%) of US teens
say their social life would end or be worsened if cell phone texting was no longer offered, and
nearly six in ten (57%) credit their mobile device with improving their life.
5

Specific highlights addressed in this section are:

How many hours do teens spend using various kinds of technology?

Do parents monitor computer and Internet use?

Are teens using technology to harm or harass others?






1
Hall, G. Teens and Technology: Preparing for the Future. ( 2006). Retrieved August 24, 2011 from Wiley
InterScience Online Library, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10-1002/yd.181/abstract
2
Lenhart, A., Madden, M., Hitlin, P. Teens and Technology. (2005) Retrieved from the Pew Internet website:
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2005/Teens-and-Technology.aspx
3
Macgill, A. Parent and Teen Internet Use. ( 2007) Retrieved August 24, 2010 from Pew Internet website,
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2007/Parent-and-Teen-Internet-Use/Data-Memo/Other-findings-about-teens-
and-their-parents.aspx?r=1
4
Toppo, G. Teens and Cell phones: Some Startling Statistics. ( 2009). Retrieved August 24, 2010 from
Benenson Strategy Group website, http://www.bsgco.com/main/do/news_detail/newsID/58
5
Teenagers: A Generation Unplugged. (2008). Retrieved August 24, 2010 from Harris Interactive website,
http://files.ctia.org/pdf/HI_TeenMobileStudy_ResearchReport.pdf

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UW-Extension
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties
HOURS ON THE INTERNET

Student responses to the question: How many hours per week do you spend on the
Internet (surfing, instant messaging, chat rooms, e-mail)?



Key Findings:
Thirty-two percent (32%) of males and 27 % of females report using the Internet less than one
hour per week.

Forty-two percent (42%) of males and 46% of females report using the Internet two or more
hours per week.

Other Notable Findings:

Of the 218 youth who report they are left out when asked where they fit in best, 30% report
spending more than three hours per week on the Internet.

Of the 183 youth who report they choose to be alone when asked where they fit in best, 33%
report spending more than three hours per week on the Internet.

Of the 1,393 youth who spend less than one hour per week on homework, 24% report
spending more than three hours per week on the Internet.

Of the 307 (5%) youth who report skipping two or more days of school in the four weeks before
the survey, 28% spend more than three hours per week on the Internet.




32
26
16
9
17
27
27
18
10
18
0
10
20
30
40
Less than 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours 3 to 4 hours 4 or more hours
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
Hours on the Internet
Males Females
113
Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey Report 2010

HOURS TEXTING

Student responses to the question: How many hours per week do you spend sending
or receiving text messages?


Key Findings:

Forty-one percent (41%) of males and 30% of females report sending or receiving text
messages less than one hour per week.

Twenty-six percent (26%) of males and 39% of females report sending or receiving text
messages more than four hours per week.

Other Notable Findings:

Of the 214 youth who report they are left out when asked where they fit in best, 34% report
spending more than three hours per week texting.

Of the 1,392 youth who spend less than one hour per week on homework, 33% report
spending more than three hours per week texting.

Of the 307 (5%) youth who report skipping two or more days of school in the four weeks before
the survey, 37% spend more than four hours per week texting.


41
14
10 9
26
30
11 10 10
39
0
20
40
60
Less than 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours 3 to 4 hours 4 or more hours
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
Hours Texting
Males Females
114
UW-Extension
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties


HOURS PLAYING VIDEO/COMPUTER GAMES OR WATCHING TV

Student responses to the question: How many hours per week do you spend playing
video/computer games or watching TV?

Key Findings:

Twenty percent (20%) of males and 31% of females report they play video/computer games or
watch TV less than one hour per week.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of males and 27% of females report they play video/computer
games or watch TV more than three hours per week.


Other Notable Findings:

Of the 3,865 youth (73%) who report their parents do not monitor their computer use, 35%
report they spend more than three hours per week playing video/computer games or watching
TV.

Of the 1,387 youth (25%) who report spending less than one hour per week on homework,
31% spend more than three hours per week playing video/computer games or watching TV.

Of the 309 (6%) youth who report skipping two or more days of school in the four weeks before
the survey, 32% spend more than three hours per week playing video/computer games or
watching TV.


20
22
19
14
25
31
24
18
11
16
0
10
20
30
40
Less than 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours 3 to 4 hours 4 or more hours
Hours Playing Video Games
Males Females
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Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey Report 2010



DO PARENTS MONITOR TEEN COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE?

Teen responses to the question To what extent do your parent(s) limit the time you can
spend on the computer and/or the Internet for non-school activities?


Key Findings:

Seventy-four percent (74%) of males and 73% of females report their parents do not limit their
computer or Internet use.

Eleven percent (11%) of males and 11% of females report their parents set a specific time
when they must get off the computer at night.

Other Notable Findings:

Of the 404 youth who report their parents never or rarely know where they are after school,
77% also report their parents do not limit their time on the computer.










74
7
6
2
11
73
10
4
2
11
0
20
40
60
80
No limits 1 hour a night 2 hours a night 3 hours a night Set a time to be
done
Time I can spend on the computer
Males Females
116
UW-Extension
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties


DO PARENTS MONITOR TEEN COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE?

Teen responses to the statement: My parents know the Internet sites I visit and what
games I play on the computer.



Key Findings:

Thirty-six percent (36%) of males and 26% of females report their parents never or rarely
know the Internet sites they visit or the games they play.

Forty-one percent (41%) of males and 48% of females report their parents often know the
Internet sites they visit or the games they play.

Other Notable Findings:

Of the 73% of youth who report their parents do not limit their time on the computer, 34%
report their parents never or rarely know the Internet sites they visit.

Of the 31% of youth who report their parents never or rarely know the Internet sites they visit,
895 (56%) report they eat fewer than three nights per week as a family.







16
20
23
41
1
11
15
25
48
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Never Rarely Sometimes Often No one at home
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
Parents know the sites I visit
Males Females
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Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey Report 2010


TEENS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING

Student responses to the question: Do you have an online profile (My Space,
Facebook, etc.)?



Key Findings:

Twenty-three percent (23%) of males and 16% of females report they do not have an online
profile.

Of the 77% of males with an online profile, 51% have made it private. Of the 84% of females
with an online profile, 66% have made it private.

Other Notable Findings:

Of the 21% of youth who have a public online profile, 26% report they rarely, sometimes, or
often get unwanted sexual advances on line.

Of those with a private online profile, 28% report their parents rarely or never know the
Internet sites they visit.

Of those with a private online profile, 74% report their parents do not limit their time on the
computer.

Of those youth who spend less than one hour per week on homework, 79% report having an
online profile.

23
51
26
16
66
18
0
20
40
60
80
No online profile Online profile is private Online profile is public
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
Males Females
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UW-Extension
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties


TEENS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING

Student responses to the question: Have you sent or posted something electronically
to harm someone else?



Key Findings

Over 90% of teens have not sent anything electronically to harm someone else.

Other Notable Findings:

Four percent (4%) of 12
th
grade males and 2% of 12
th
grade females sent or posted something
electronically to harm someone in the 30 days before the survey. Five percent (5%) of 11
th

grade males and 2 % of 11
th
grade females sent or posted something electronically to harm
someone else.

Of the 418 (8%) youth who report their parents never or rarely know where they are after
school, 21% have sent or posted something electronically to harm someone else.

Of the 1659 (31%) youth who report their parents never or rarely know the Internet sites
they visit, 14% have sent or posted something electronically to harm someone else.




91
3
2
4
0
20
40
60
80
100
No Yes, within past 30 days Yes, within the past year Yes, more than a year
ago
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
Sent or posted something to harm someone
All teens
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Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey Report 2010



TEENS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING

Teen responses to the question: Have you ever been the victim of cyberbullying (via
electronic device)?


Key Findings:

Only 9% of males report having been a victim of cyberbullying, but 19% of females report
having been a victim of cyberbullying at some time.

Other Notable Findings:

Ten percent (10%) of 10
th
grade females and 10% of 12
th
grade females report they were a
victim of cyberbullying more than a year ago.

Of the 9% of youth who report they do not feel safe in their homes or communities, 33% also
report they have been a victim of cyberbullying.

Of the 382 youth (7%) who have lower levels of parental monitoring, 22% have been a victim
of cyberbullying.

Of the 218 youth who report they are left out when asked where they fit in best, 20% have
been a victim of a cyberbully and of the 389 youth who report they do not know where they fit
in, 18% report they have been a victim of a cyberbully.

91
3 3 3
81
5
6
8
0
20
40
60
80
100
No Yes, within past 30 days Yes, within the past year Yes, more than a year
ago
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
Victim of cyberbullying
Males Females
120
UW-Extension
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties



TEEN RESPONSES TO BEING CYBERBULLIED BY ANOTHER STUDENT

Teen responses to the question: Suppose you are a victim of a cyberbully (via
electronic device), what would you do?




Key Findings:

Fifty-one percent (51%) of males and 37% of females would ignore a message sent by a
cyberbully. Thirty-one percent (31%) of females would talk to an adult whereas 18% of males
would talk to an adult.

Other Notable Findings:

Forty-five percent (45%) of 7
th
and 8
th
grade females would talk to an adult if they received a
message from a cyberbully. Only 29% of 7
th
and 8
th
grade males would talk to an adult.








51
19
3
18
9
37
14
4
31
14
0 20 40 60
Ignore it
Send message back
Forward to friends
Talk to an adult
Try to work it out
Response to a cyberbully
Females
Males
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Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey Report 2010




TEENS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING

Teen responses to the question: How often do you experience unwanted sexual
advances when you are on the Internet (chat rooms, instant messaging, etc)?





Key Findings:

More than three out of four youth (86% of males and 75% of females) report they never
experience unwanted sexual advances when on the Internet.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of females report they rarely, sometimes or often experience
unwanted sexual advances when they are on the Internet. Only 14% of males report this.

Other Notable Findings:

Of the 9% of youth who report they do not feel safe in their homes or communities, 27% also
report they sometimes or often get unwanted sexual advances on-line.



86
8
4
2
75
14
7
4
0
20
40
60
80
100
Never Rarely Sometimes Often
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
Unwanted online sexual advances
Males Females
122
UW-Extension
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties