Media Use Trends in U.S. Youth

Television, computer, and video game use has been on the rise in U.S. children and teens. Although children spend more time watching television than they do using other media, computer and video game use is rising more rapidly than television use.

Among all 8- to 18-year-olds, average amount of time spent with each medium in a typical day (hours:minutes)

2004

2009

Change in minutes (% increase)

Television

3:51

4:29

+ :38 (16)

Computer

1:02

1:29

+ :27 (43)

Video games

0:49

1:13

+ :24 (49)

Movies

0:25

0:25

No change

*Adapted from Rideout VJ, Foehr UG, Roberts DF. Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation; 2010. Report No.: 8010.

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