About Us
The Center for Information Technology Impacts on Children, Youth, and Families was founded on November 1, 2000 to provide a focus for research and outreach related to the human dimensions of information technology and to examine how the continued growth in technology affects our children, youth and families. It is located on the Virginia Tech campus in Wallace Hall within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
Statistics reveal that
- In 2000, it was estimated that over 55 million American households owned personal computers with Internet access and that more than a third of American families spent at least an hour on the Internet.
- Between 2000 and 2009 Internet use by all age groups increased dramatically. However, by 2009, 93% of American teens between the ages of 12 and 17 and adults between 18 and 29 accessed the Internet daily by computer and/or on cellular phones.
- According to research by the Pew Foundation, teenage ownership of cell phones increased from 45% in 2000 to 75% in 2009.
- Education and income are not major determinants of whether a household will be connected. Instead, the key predictor of an online connection in the home seems to be parental experience with the web outside the home.
- Teen cell phone owners in the lowest household income category are most likely to use handsets to go online.
- Texting is an important and universal means of communication among teens. They send a tremendous number of texts on a daily basis.
- Access and experience are just two factors that look to prolong the Digital Divide.
- Nearly two-thirds of online youth age 9-17 prefer connecting to the Internet rather than watching television or using the telephone.
What can I do on the Internet?
- Connect with others using social networking software
- Blog
- Tweet
- Visit online virtual worlds
- Share content online
- Remix content
- Get news about current events and politics
- Buy things online
- Get health, dieting, fitness info
- Get info about sensitive health topics
