A fascinating new study from the Pew Research Center Looks at how teens are using the Internet:

The findings show that the Internet isn't just prevalent in our lives, it is our lives. Ninety-three percent of teens ages 12 to 17 go online, 75% of them own a cell phone, and 66% say they text. In fact, 58% of 12-year-olds now have mobiles, compared to 18% just five years ago. Sixty-two percent use the Internet to access information on news and politics, and some teens are even using the Internet as a guardian: 17% say they go online to research information about drug use, sexual health, and other topics that are awkward to talk about with real people.

At Broadband for America we support children and young adults getting connected online. It’s a great tool to improve educational opportunities and has become standard in most parts of the country in the way that kids socialize. However, we also support efforts to educate kids about the risks of going online and to protect and monitor children in a way that keeps them safe without denying them the resources they need online to stay competitive in school and society.

Ready the full study here.