Now- a- days one start thinking of owning a smartphone at the age of thirteen and the ownership level for smartphones and regular mobile phones are the same for 17-year-olds. This is the finding of Ericsson Consumer Lab.

Reflecting on the teenagers’ communications and socializing behavior, the research says that Teenagers start to use communication tools in the same way as adults do as they get older. “They will continue to use “their” tools such as texting, Facebook and video chat, but at the same time, they understand the need to use voice and e-mail as they move into the next stage of their lives,” said Ann-Charlotte Kornblad, Senior advisor at Ericsson ConsumerLab.

It further says that the common usage of texting and Facebook has changed the dynamics of teenage dating. The biggest changes can be seen in the courting process, where the goal is to ask the other person out on a date. However teenagers still meet potential romantic partners face-to-face. Another clear shift is the fact that changing your Facebook relationship status to “in a relationship” or “single” is now seen by friends as the official declaration. Texting remains the teenager’s tool of choice when face time isn’t an option. It is a tool that does not interrupt the flow of their lives. Voice calls, on the other hand, are considered by teenagers to be more suitable for adults.

The study consisted of almost 2,000 respondents and involved a representative sample of 20 million people between 13 and 17 years of age, representative of the entire US. The behavior reported is similar to that in many other countries. The study also consisted of 44 qualitative interviews.