Teenage girls more media-literate than boys claims Ofcom

3 May 2006

Teenage girls are more media-literate than their male peers, new Ofcom research has claimed.

Girls aged between 12 and 15 are 10% more likely to own a mobile phone (87% compared to 77%).

They are also almost 10% more likely to regularly go online (63% compared to 54%).

Boys were only ahead in the use of computer games, with 66% regularly playing games compared to 51% of girls.

"The report provides important insights into a generation whose media experiences, attitudes and preferences are markedly different from those of their parents," said Ofcom partner Tim Suter.

"There are challenges and opportunities for all involved," he added.

Two-fifths of children aged between eight and 11 and 71% of children aged between 12 and 15 who use the internet at home are not monitored online.

Around half of all households do not have any filtering software to regulate childrens' access to adult content.

Broadband - Source: Ofcom press release, "Ofcom publishes report on children's media literacy in the UK" - issued 02 May 2006.

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