For most teens, the big increase in screen time is on their cellphones. More than three-quarters of all teens own cellphones, according to a 2011 study conducted by Pew Internet and American Life Project. This is an increase from the 45 percent of teens who owned cellphones in 2004, Pew said.
Teens use their cellphones to text (an average of 60 times a day, according to the Pew study), check Facebook, play games and listen to music.
Vanessa Van Petten is the author and creator of the Web site Radical Parenting, which offers parenting advice written by kids. She said this is a direct result of what she calls “hybrid life.” For previous generations of teens, she said, “There was technology time and there was offline time. Now, there’s no separation.”