Majority of teens use smartphones
Published 5:00 am Friday, May 10, 2013
According to a new nationwide survey, 51 percent of high schoolers carry a smartphone with them to school on a daily basis.
The survey, conducted in conjunction with education associations as well as the National PTA and the American Federation of Teachers, involved responses from 2,392 parents regarding more than 4,000 children ages 3 to 18.
Parents surveyed saw some benefits to mobile devices, with 68 percent of parents feeling certain apps can help children read. Many parents also saw the downside, with 62 percent feeling phones were a distraction and 70 percent saying the devices used by their children were used solely for entertainment.
Overall, 78 percent of families owned a laptop or portable computer, 77 percent had at least one smartphone, 46 percent had at least one tablet, 36 percent owned an iPod Touch and 24 percent owned at least one e-reader.
Girls were more likely than boys to use mobile technologies, 75 percent compared with 69 percent. They were also more likely to have an e-reader (16 percent versus 7 percent for boys) and have a tablet (39 percent versus 30 percent).