Get Smart: Smartphone Usage Skyrockets Among U.S. Teens

Used as primary tool for Internet

Using computers for Internet access is so old-school, apparently. One in four teens (aged 12 to 17) now opt out of laptops and desktops and choose their smartphone instead -- and not just for chatting and texting, but as their central means for using the Internet, according to the Pew Research Center. Additionally, teen girls are "significantly more likely" than boys to use their phones for Internet access. "The nature of teens' Internet use has transformed dramatically -- from stationary connections tied to shared desktops in the home to always-on connections that move with them throughout the day. In many ways, teens represent the leading edge of mobile connectivity, and the patterns of their technology use often signal future changes in the adult population," said Pew researcher Mary Madden  in an emailed statement. (NBC News)

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