Pew Internet & American Life Project
This survey of American youths online, ages 12 to 17, finds that 55 percent use online social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Older teens, particularly girls, are more likely to use these sites to reinforce existing friendships, while boys use them primarily for making new friends and flirting. The rapid growth in popularity of these sites is generating concern among parents, school administrators and government officials, because of the potential risks of making personal information public. Free. 10 pages. (202) 419-4505, http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_SNS_Data_Memo_Jan_2007.pdf.
