According to the second annual AP-AOL Instant Messaging Trends Survey, the number of teens using IM has increased as more youth sign-on to use cell phone services and social networking.
The survey revealed, according to information provided by teen respondents:
- Thirty-two percent, or one in every three teens, use their cell phone to send IMs
- Fifty-five percent have used IM to get homework help
- Twenty-two percent of teens said they have send an IM to ask for or accept a date
- Forty-three percent of respondents said they have used IMs to say something they wouldn't say to someone in person, including nearly half of teen girls surveyed compared to just over a third of teen boys
- Forty-two percent of teens said they were likely to upload photos while IMing, compared to just 34 percent in 2006
- Teens are less likely to conduct research for school while IMing today at 57 percent polled compared to 63 percent in 2006
- Teens are also less likely to update their blog or social profiles at 33 percent compared to 42 percent last year
- Seventy percent said they send more IMs than emails
- Eight in ten teen IM users said email was the most popular online activity
