• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, June 17, 2008

OTX, releasing new results from its Teen Topix study, the complex lives of the 13 -17 year old set, found that teens are spending an average of 11.5 hours online, doing everything from instant messaging and visiting social networking sites to shopping and listening to music, but dispels myths that this group wants to do everything online.

Jane Buckingham, President, The Intelligence Group, concludes that "Teens are not a ‘one size fits all' market and the... report show this group to be complex, sophisticated consumers and media users... "

Given the choice, though, teens prefer real friends to online friends, date someone from school over someone from the Internet, and shop in a store to shop online,

The study did find that 24% of teens are spending more than 15 hours a week online and when all teens were asked how frequently they do typical online activities, instant messaging came up as the most frequent activity, followed by visiting social networking sites, email, searching, and visiting virtual community sites.

• 45% spent from 1 to less than 8 hours on line during a typical week            
• 31% from 8 to less than 15           
• 24% 15 hours and over           

Bruce Friend, President Media and Entertainment Insights for OTX, said "Many of (their) online activities take place simultaneously... our Longitudinal Media Experience (LMX) study confirms that teenagers are often heavy simultaneous media users." 

The study also says that 58% of teens have made a purchase online. On average teens who make purchases online are spending $46 per month, and 26% of teens are spending $50 or more. Clothes and music are the two most popular online purchases, followed by books, electronics and DVDs.

The bedroom (36%) and living room (24%) are the places teens are most likely to have their primary computer. Teens with their primary computer in their bedrooms are more likely to be heavy internet users (15+ hours per week) and spend money online.

78% of teens are concerned about computer viruses while online, followed by:

• Identity theft (67%)
• Unauthorized access to personal information (65%)
• Scams (60%)
• Spam (60%)

The average teen has signed up for over four social networking sites and currently belongs to two, reports the study. Teens are receptive to advertising on these sites, where the majority of teens learn about:

• Financial services (63%)
• Movies in theaters (59%)
• Mobile services and accessories (58%)
• Travel (57%)
• Other websites (53%)

For more information please visit OTX here.