Teenagers are more into hanging out with family and getting lost in their phones than having sex, a new study has posited.
A survey of 1,000 people aged between and 16 and 18 found that two-thirds of those quizzed said that they had never had sex, while 24% admitted that they had never drank alcohol.
The report by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) suggests that the above figures have had a direct knock-on effect on the sharp decline of teenage pregnancies in the UK since 2007.
The ‘Social media, SRE and sensible drinking’ survey found that over 80% of those polled said that performing well in exams and a successful chosen career path was a top priority.
68%, meanwhile, opined that spending time with friends was of key importance, an attitude that also applies to family members.
One aspect of the survey required those involved to keep a daily diary of their social interactions, which resulted in an average figure of five hours per night was spent online for non-work or study purposes.
Online communication over face-to-face interaction seems the preferred option, with 70% revealing that they spoke to friends online four times a week or more.
Researchers argued that teenagers are less likely to have sex due a lack of direct social contact, as those who regularly see friends and partners in person are more likely to sexually active as a result.
The report highlights a “more sensible” current generation of teenagers, underlining the passion to succeed at education with an eye on future career plans.
A desire to avoid pregnancy at a young age was also expressed.
“The downward trend in teenage conceptions appears here to stay,” said Katherine O’Brien, BPAS Head of Media and Policy Research.
“We can welcome this without stigmatising those who make the decision to have a child at this stage in their life.
“Yet it is important that we understand the factors in this trend in order to support young people’s reproductive choices and work to prevent unplanned, unwanted pregnancies across all age groups.”
O’Brien went on to highlight a generation that “partakes in traditional teenage risk-taking behaviours at much lower levels.”
“The significant decline in high levels of alcohol consumption, which a number of studies, our research, and young people themselves all link to sexual activity, together with this dramatic change in teenagers’ lifestyles and patterns of socialising, may well be the strongest factors that have pushed teenage conception rates to the current record low,” she added.
You can read the report in full here.
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