Computer use and teenage development

A study of 1,591 teenagers in Ontario, Canada looked at their Internet and computer game use over a 21-month period. Most girls (93.7%) and boys (94.7%) reported using the Internet at both time periods whereas more boys (80.3%) than girls (28.8%) reported gaming at both time periods. Girls reported a small decline in overall technology use over the course of the study mostly due to a decline in game playing. Those teenagers who used the Internet most had better quality friendships but less positive parental relationships. Moderate use of the Internet was associated with a more positive academic orientation than non-use or high levels of use.

Willoughby, Teena - A short-term longitudinal study of Internet and computer game use by adolescent boys and girls: prevalence, frequency of use, and psychosocial predictors Developmental Psychology January 2008, 44(1), 195-204