Having grown up with broadband internet access, those aged 12 to 17 have integrated online activity into their daily lives.

Increased broadband penetration has helped make the current generation of youngsters far more internet savvy than their predecessors. The current crop of teens (age 12 to 17) has grown up with the internet in their homes, and most have entered their teen years with high-speed access. The internet has opened up new communication channels -- including instant messenger, email, chats and blogs -- that teens are integrating into their daily lives. Their fluency in virtual communication has led to unprecedented levels of online engagement among them.

• Teens (age 12 to 17) spent an average of 1,233 minutes online during February 2006, up 19 percent from a year ago.
  
  
• Communication-related activities account for the lion’s share of time spent online by teens in February 2006. Time spent using instant messengers ranks highest, with teens spending 489 minutes per month using IM, up 41 percent from last year. Email ranked second at 176 minutes per visitor (up 33 percent) and discussion/chat ranked third at 159 minutes per visitor (up 46 percent).
  
  
• Online gaming also accounts for much of teens’ time online. They spent an average of 87 minutes on Online Gaming sites, and 51 minutes on Gaming Information sites. Time spent at Online Gaming sites, however, declined 42 percent from last year. EA Online still ranks among the top 10 properties in terms of engagement, though it has experienced a 67 percent decline in average minutes per visitor to 72 in February.
  
  
• In February, teens spent the most time on Time-Warner (AOL) sites, averaging 368 minutes per visitor, up 22 percent from last year. MySpace.com ranked second at 263 minutes per visitor, a nine-percent increase over last year, and Yahoo! Sites ranked third with 189 minutes per visitor, which represents an 11-percent increase.

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comScore Networks provides unparalleled insight into consumer behavior and attitudes. This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than two million consumers who have given comScore explicit permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its patent-pending technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior and attitudes. comScore consultants apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI. comScore services are used by global leaders such as AOL, Yahoo!, Verizon, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Tribune Interactive, ESPN, Nestlé, Bank of America, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, GlaxoSmithKline and Orbitz.