In a recent report from the boffins at Pew Research Centre, it appears that unlimited access to smartphones is changing how the young use the internet. No kidding.

Plugged in and never switched off

According to Pew, the newest batch of global teens are staying online in unprecedented numbers.

First, it’s all about access. In the US, teens are 95% more likely to have access to a smartphone than they are to a desktop, which sits at about 88%, regardless of ethnicity or household income.

A growing amount of teens have also described their frequency of internet use as being “near-constant” with 45% claiming they are almost always logged-in.

With 44% checking “several times a day,” and 11% identifying as “less often.”

Girls vs. Boys

According to the data, 50% of of “near-constant” users are female, while only 39% of males identified this way. However, the gap shrinks from there.

In gaming, 84% of teens polled said they have access to PC or console platforms, with 90% as practicing some form of gaming, regardless of system. Of teens polled, 97% of males said they play some form of video game, followed by females with a close 83%.

With gaming overshadowing most box office revenues, the proof of unisex gaming is significant to marketers previously unconvinced of the female gamer segment. As stigmas erode, we can expect this number to climb.

Are you surprised that teens are more likely to have a smartphone than home computer? What do you think about the latest gaming stats? Let us know in the comments below.