Mobile devices have become a primary driver of teen Internet use with 24% of teenagers reporting going online “almost constantly” with their smartphones, according to the first in a series of reports by the Pew Research Center examining teenagers’ use of technology. 

Among the findings in the Teens, Social Media & Technology 2015 report:

• 92% of teens report going online daily
• 56% go online several times a day
• 12% report once-a-day use
• 6% go online weekly and 2% less often

The emerging patterns of teen use of mobile devices could have implications for engaging this group as adults in local and community news. Although the Pew report does not specifically address the future, the  teen patterns could very well become habits that follow them into adulthood.  The survey findings provide details about how teens ages 13-to-17 use their mobiles devices as well as the kinds of devices they have. Most use smartphones.

The survey showed that 88% of the teens reported having, or having access to, a mobile phone of some kind, and 73% have smartphones. Smartphone users skew more toward older teens with 76% of 15- to 17-year-olds having a smartphone, compared with 68% of 13- to 14-year-olds. About 30% of teens have a “basic” cell phone that is not a smartphone. About 15% of teens have both types of phones. Of teens with a smartphone, 21% also have a basic cell phone. On the flipside, half of teens with a basic phone also have or have access to a smartphone

African-American teens were most likely to have a smartphone with 85% having access to one, compared with 71% for both white and Hispanic teens.

The survey reported 91% of teens go online from mobile devices at least occasionally.  Among these “mobile teens,” 94% go online daily or more often. Teens who don’t have access to the mobile devices tend to go online less frequently.  Some 68% go online at least daily.

When it comes to social media, the top platforms for teens in order of use are Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.