Smartphone adoption among American teens has increased substantially and mobile access to the internet is
pervasive. 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. These are among the new findings
from a nationally representative survey of 802 teens ages 12-17 and their parents which shows that:
78% of teens now have a cell phone, and almost half (47%) of those own smartphones. That translates
into 37% of all teens who have smartphones, up from just 23% in 2011.
One in four teens (23%) have a tablet computer, a level comparable to the general adult population.
Nine in ten (93%) 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.