David Couchman
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'Connected' survey of how teenagers use the media

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends, The Simpsons, and Eastenders come out on top; texting is cool, but using the Internet takes second place.

This page summarizes the results of an important survey of how young people use the media. Detailed results.

Television

Most young people watch TV for more than an hour a day. Favorite programs are Eastenders, Friends, the Simpsons and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. About half watch a news program regularly, but most are not interested in documentary programs.

Newspapers, Magazines and books

Most young people read a magazine regularly, and about half read a newspaper. The most popular newspaper is the Sun. Most do not use the school library, and half do not read books for fun.

The Internet

Young people do use the Internet, but perhaps not as much as we think, and not in the ways we think. Most spend up to an hour a day on the Internet, and send a few emails every day. They see the Internet as useful for getting information, and use it once a week for research, but they do not use Internet chat sites.

Mobile phones

Most own a mobile phone, use the phone for up to an hour a day to chat to friends, and send text messages regularly.

Other

Most spend time regularly with their friends outside school, go out at weekends to cinemas and clubs. Most watch one film a week at the cinema, and go to clubs once or twice a week. Most listen to music CDs for more than an hour a day. Most own a games console, and spend up to an hour a day playing computer games. 'Music is a significant component of most respondent's lives.'

Detailed results of survey