The Pew Internet and American Life Project reported yesterday in their “Teens and Technology” report that smartphone adoption among American teens has increased substantially and mobile access to the Internet is pervasive.

According to their research, one in four teens are “cell-mostly” Internet users, who say they mostly go online using their phone and not using some other device such as a desktop or laptop computer.

The nationally representative Pew Research Center survey of 802 youth ages 12-17 and their parents explored technology use, and among the key findings:

• 78% of teens now have a cellphone, and almost half (47%) of them own smartphones. That translates into 37% of all teens who have smartphones, up from just 23% in 2011.
• 23% of teens have a tablet computer, a level comparable to the general adult population.
• 95% of teens use the Internet.
• 93% of teens have a computer or have access to one at home. Seven in ten (71%) teens with home computer access say the laptop or desktop they use most often is one they share with other family members.

“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,” said Mary Madden, Senior Researcher for the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project and co-author of the report.

“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.”

So what implications does this have on your business? Do you cater to a teen market? How about your website; is it mobile ready and mobile friendly?

Lots of implications from this research!

Read or download the full report.

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