What does research tell us about 16–17 year olds online?
The ACMA research project Media and Communications in Australian Families 2007 is an in-depth study of young people’s use of electronic media and the way parents mediate that use.
The research involved a representative telephone survey of parents from 751 households across Australia and a three-day time-use diary completed by 1003 young people aged 8–17 years.
The research shows that, in 2007, young people in upper secondary years were consolidating their use of internet-enabled computers and mobile phones. Young people aged 16–17 years reported participating in a range of internet and mobile phone activities over three diary days
- 48 per cent used the internet to complete homework.
- 48 per cent used the internet for messaging and chat.
- 44 per cent engaged in social networking and web authorship.
- 15 per cent used the internet to play online games against other players.
- Mobile phones use included texting, calls, games, music and photos.
- 32 per cent used the internet to watch/listen to media.