Mobile phones, web chat, and sex among Norwegian adolescents
Pedersen W. · 2004
View Original AbstractHeavy mobile phone use among teens correlates with dramatically higher rates of sexual activity, suggesting wireless devices accelerate social development.
Plain English Summary
Norwegian researchers studied 10,926 teenagers to examine how mobile phone and internet use relates to sexual behavior. They found a striking pattern: less than 10% of teens who didn't use these technologies reported having sexual intercourse, while two-thirds of the heaviest users did. This association remained strong even after accounting for age, family background, and other factors, suggesting mobile technology may significantly influence teenage sexual development.
Why This Matters
While this study doesn't examine direct biological EMF effects, it reveals something equally important: how wireless technology fundamentally alters adolescent behavior and development. The dramatic difference in sexual activity between heavy mobile users (67%) and non-users (under 10%) points to profound social and psychological impacts of constant connectivity. This research matters because it demonstrates that EMF-emitting devices don't just potentially affect our cells and tissues - they reshape how young people interact, communicate, and mature. The reality is that wireless technology creates new social environments with real consequences for developing minds and bodies. What this means for you as a parent is recognizing that mobile devices aren't just communication tools - they're powerful instruments that can accelerate social and sexual development in ways we're only beginning to understand.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
We investigated the associations between new interactive technology for communication, such as web chat or mobile phones, and sexual behaviour among Norwegian adolescents.
A representative sample of adolescents (age 13-18, N = 10,926) filled in a questionnaire during scho...
Most adolescents have access to communication technology, but how much they use it varies. In partic...
Norwegian adolescents have changed their sexual behaviour over the last decade. The introduction and widespread use of new communication technology is one of the most salient changes over the same period. The findings suggest that this technology may in fact be of importance to teenagers' sexual socialisation.
Show BibTeX
@article{w._2004_mobile_phones_web_chat_2518,
author = {Pedersen W.},
title = {Mobile phones, web chat, and sex among Norwegian adolescents},
year = {2004},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15229659/},
}