Study finds teens still like to hang out behind the Gas N' Sip

According to a recently released report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, a telephone study of US youths aged 12-17 found that -- get this -- kids actually put value on "non-online" meetings, such as "talking on the phone" or "hanging out." If you believe these so-called findings, 40-percent of teens say they use that archaic and confusing system of wired telephones, while 31-percent claim to spend time "in person" with friends every day, as though they're not frittering away their time on PCs, DS Lites, and cellphones -- interacting virtually, like the rest of us. Our take? Obvious youth-driven cover-up. Hear us out here. If the 'rents found out kids were growing up so socially disenfranchised, they might just take all those beautiful gadgets away. On the other hand (or OTOH, as the youngsters say on their picture calculators), we don't exactly take a telephone poll of 935 teens as empirical knowledge, so maybe it's possible that kids are pretty much the same as they've always been -- if slightly more distracted. One thing's for sure -- they'll never experience the pain of not knowing the lyrics to Rock Me Amadeus like we did.

[Kyle @ Dec 20th 2007 11:12PM]

No shit kids still like to hang out. How else would we party?

[nerdtalker @ Dec 21st 2007 12:16AM]

Moreover, the SMS (or "t3h texting" if you prefer) is a valuable way to let everyone you know, know that there's a party going on at so and so's. Keep in mind, without calling every last one of them.

This is such a non-story... ::sigh::

[mr friggles @ Dec 21st 2007 10:50AM]

"gas N pass"?

is that a new term for gloryholes?

[Fernando G. @ Dec 20th 2007 11:13PM]

i never gotten past "i'm doing a surv-"

[ErikLindemann @ Dec 20th 2007 11:17PM]

Amadeus, Amadeus. Amadeus!
What a great song.

Seriously though, I hang out with my friends all the time, their names are Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS.

[Jamesology @ Dec 20th 2007 11:18PM]

LMAO, I wonder how much these ppl get paid to study this useless facts.

Also, yeah my buddies and hang out to beat the hell out of old ppl walking through the parks. Help me release my anger on other older ppl talking trash about my age group.

And no I did not learn how to make gangs from videogames, instead it was from movies like Greasers and West Side Stories. Gangs have more fun based on these visual media provided to me at school. Thank you adults for showing me the way!

[matthew @ Dec 20th 2007 11:19PM]

YOU MUST CHILL!

[Reader @ Dec 20th 2007 11:23PM]

Teenagers don't actually exist, it's all a conspiracy, I have proof.

[giantenemycrab @ Dec 20th 2007 11:56PM]

you are one silly billy.

[supermeerkat @ Dec 21st 2007 3:54AM]

That's what the Government wants you to think! They're real all right, and they're everywhere.

[Rynth @ Dec 21st 2007 4:44AM]

Proof?! Proof!? You cant handle the proof!

Wait.....

[dustandechoes91 @ Dec 20th 2007 11:23PM]

I wonder how long it took them to figure out. The better my friends, the less i talk to them online. Oh how little people realize how fun it is to loiter with friends in front of the no loitering sign at the mobile station-although they don't care if you buy something.

[Ian k @ Dec 20th 2007 11:25PM]

Ya...you know it still hasn't reached the point were you can have actual intercourse with the interweb...gotten close,but still not the same,As soon as that little bugger is taking care of ..well then will all be staying home for a long time

[luke @ Dec 20th 2007 11:33PM]

hes right...you cant "accidentally" touch brest on the internet (yet)

[Krono6 @ Dec 21st 2007 10:23AM]

I'm suprised(/annoyed*cough*) as to why it hasn't been done already. I don't see it being THAT insanely hard.
Technically, you can just create some crotch plates that simulate sex, one for males and one for females, connect them through USB, and have a program sync their "movements".
It's a multi-billion dollar idea!

[Trace The Hedgehog @ Dec 20th 2007 11:39PM]

That song is sweet..

[austin @ Dec 20th 2007 11:39PM]

i never talk to my friend on the interweb.
i talk to losers through comments on engadget

[DarkLightConnection @ Dec 20th 2007 11:44PM]

And I reply to losers through comments on engadget :-)

[ED @ Dec 20th 2007 11:46PM]

With that attitude you're lucky you have one friend.

[Fraggle.Rock @ Dec 21st 2007 1:04AM]

I'm not even cool enough to have a friend, virtual or otherwise. Thus, I find myself basking in the glory of other reader's comments about... other readers. Its a sad, vicarious existence, but at least I've found ample time to peruse many a e-thesauri :-)

hehe

[SteveMB @ Dec 20th 2007 11:49PM]

In before the guy that says studies have a precision of .1643634626683939298

[Anthony @ Dec 20th 2007 11:53PM]

But...that makes YOU that guy.

So then you can't comment before...it is your comment...but...the... *explode*

[Kamokazi @ Dec 21st 2007 12:03AM]

Duh..think about it...these punks actually answered a landline phone to take the survey. That's not what I would call a varied sampling at all. Do 935 e-mail surveys and I bet you get near opposite results.

[flYY @ Dec 21st 2007 12:37AM]

or survey those random kids loitering outside the store..oh wait..d'oh

[Dillon @ Dec 22nd 2007 3:27PM]

Ya, really. I hate telephones so much (landline and cell), but then again, I'm an awkward teen that way :p.

[Nick @ Dec 21st 2007 1:01AM]

I have the Logitech EasyCall wireless mouse and keyboard...I like it and it wasn't that expensive

[Fraggle.Rock @ Dec 21st 2007 1:10AM]

Nick makes a very valid point, the validity of the study may be called into question, but the Logitech EasyCall wireless mouse and keyboard IS likable, and not too expensive!

We all have a lot to learn from Nick, and his impenetrable logic :-)

[mmh @ Dec 21st 2007 1:56AM]

And I have a cookie! It's also nice and inexpensive, and yes I LOVE IT.

[tumnasgt @ Dec 21st 2007 1:40AM]

I'm 16 and while I spend a lot of time talking to friends online, nothing will ever be the same as meeting with someone in person.

[CJ @ Dec 21st 2007 2:28AM]

Someone thought a survey was needed for this? Why? It's almost as 'duh' and pointless as doing a study on if people with medical insurance do better than uninsured patients. Breaking news, insured patients do better...really? No way!

[Carbonize @ Dec 21st 2007 2:47AM]

I find this about as valid and truthful as the surveys where they ask teenagers if they are still virgins.

[Fractal @ Dec 21st 2007 3:04AM]

Strange things are a foot at the circle K

[Prophestus @ Dec 21st 2007 4:20AM]

Your comment is most non-heinous. Be excellent to each other.

[Alex @ Dec 21st 2007 11:43AM]

most triumphant

[vpjayant @ Dec 21st 2007 5:21AM]

People... meet? What is this blasphemy?!


In time, communication via technological mediums will win.


The machine revolution is nigh.

[Rex @ Dec 21st 2007 5:36AM]

I would hang out with people in person, but I'm really not sure how to legally block someone from talking at me.

[Luis @ Dec 21st 2007 2:51PM]

Yea I also hate when people talk AT me and not TO me. So damn annoying!!!!!111

[wickedpheonix @ Dec 21st 2007 6:05AM]

1) Parties
2) Sex
3) School.

'nuff said.

[RefriedBeaner @ Dec 21st 2007 6:09AM]

Awesome! Now tell me the percentage of kids that randomly jump into a musical about which gang is the best! Hey so what did you do last summer? Oh I met a girl name Sandy!

[Kizul Emeraldfire @ Dec 21st 2007 7:46AM]

.>

I must be one of the only teens in the world with absolutely NO offline social life. u.u;

[DarkLightConnection @ Dec 23rd 2007 9:15PM]

I'm another one.... not a single off-line friend arround here

[DarkLightConnection @ Dec 23rd 2007 9:16PM]

But I'm happy like this :-D

[master_sword @ Dec 21st 2007 8:04AM]

well, i hang out with my friends a lot (in person), but sometimes half of them (not me, texting costs me too much) just sit there and text and tell the other people there what was said. so while they are with their friends, theyre still glued to their phones.

[Stephen @ Dec 21st 2007 8:12AM]

Well, sure. I see kids hanging out all the time, several of them all sitting at a table in a restaurant, all talking on their respective cell phones. They don't interact with each other, but I guess they're still technically "hanging out".

[eric @ Dec 21st 2007 9:37AM]

the only time i meet people outside of the internets is when i meet a fine hunnie on myspace and we want to touch eachother.

[silverblackvoid @ Dec 21st 2007 10:07AM]

not every1 is a geek.

[kirk @ Dec 21st 2007 10:44AM]

where is that picture from? movie? tv?

[Tony @ Dec 21st 2007 3:35PM]

Yeah, nothing like staying up to 2 in the morning playing some Halo 3 with friends.

[Loban @ Dec 21st 2007 5:02PM]

Of course the youngins still hang out. It's called a LAN party.