Is your teen video chatting? Study shows 37% are, and the number is growing

How do your kids stay in touch with their friends online? Do they use video chat programs? If so, they're in good company — according to a study of American teenagers, nearly 4 our of 10 kids are using video chat.

The survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, looked into the internet habits of 799 teens aged 12 to 17. It showed that a full 37% of teens used a video chat application such as iChat, Skype, Google Talk, or other similar programs to talk with others. Girls were more likely to use video chat (42%) than boys (33%).

There's nothing inherently wrong with video chat — it can be a great way for kids to keep in touch when separated from friends and family. But make sure your kids know who not to talk to — teach them to be safe and smart digital citizens before offering them free access to a video cam. And don't be afraid to monitor your teens' online activity.

[via Mashable]

This article was written by Fox Van Allen and originally appeared on Tecca

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