A Kaiser Family Foundation study found
that U.S. kids ages 8 to 18 are consuming more media than ever before. According to the survey, children and teens are now using their phones, computers, TVs and video-game systems for a total of 7.5 hours a day, or 52.5 hours a week. (The authors explain that multitasking and dual-use devices--like cell phones that play video--push those figures even higher.) In the past decade, music listening has increased the most, up nearly an hour per day. The only leisure activity that has become less popular is reading.
Daily media consumption for U.S. kids
Watching TV: 270 min.
Listening to music: 151 min.
Talking on cell phones: 33 min.
Playing video games: 73 min.
Text messaging: 90 min.
Nonschool computer use: 89 min.
TOTAL TIME INCLUDES MULTITASKING
SOURCE: THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION