Key things to know about young people

• What makes me happy: 'Relationships with my family' and 'relationships with my friends' are the two most important elements of happiness for the vast majority of young people (16 -24 year olds.) Money comes in fourth (after emotional health)
  Source: YouGov survey for the Princes Trust, 2009
• We're delaying flying the nest: 58% of men and 39% of women aged 20-24 still live with their parents.
  Source: ONS, 2007
• And if they do leave the nest, twenty-somethings are twice as more likely than those elsewhere in Europe (France, Ireland, Greece and Portugal) to return home.
  Source: Institute of Social and Economic Research, 2008
• Mum, Dad, how deep are your pockets?: In 2006, 38% of first-time buyers (under the age of 30) were given assistance with the deposit. By 2008, over half of young home-buyers needed help.
  Source: Council of Mortgage Lenders
• Who said we're all couch potatoes? The number of adults across England who regularly participate in sport has risen by more than half a million over the past two years. The fastest growth has been amongst those in their twenties.
  Source: Sport England, 2008

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Key things to know about their media habits

• Young fans: 16-34 year olds are fans of the BBC. They trust it the most (compared to all adults), and are more likely to agree it provides great programmes.
  Source: BBC Audiences, 2008
• Radio listening down: In 2008 the average 15- 19 year old listens to just 14 hours of radio a week - 5 hours less than in 1999, when they tuned in for 19 hours a week
  RAJAR 2008/ 1999
• Access all areas: a quarter of social networkers have posted sensitive personal data about themselves. Younger adults are even more likely to do this, with 34% of 16-25 year olds willingly posting a phone number, home address or email address.
  Ofcom Social Networking qualitative research, 2008
• The new way to socialise. 50% of 8-17 year olds have a profile on a social networking site. 41% of these leave their privacy settings open so that their details are open to anyone.
  Ofcom Social Networking qualitative research, 2008
• Glued to the TV? Not teens. 11-16 year olds watch 2.9 hours a day - which is less than the average individual, who'll see 3.75 hours a day.
  BARB, Childwise 2008
• Get me on the mobile: owning a mobile is almost universal among 16-34 year olds: 95% have one. They're also more likely to use advanced features, such as mobile TV, than the rest of the population.
  Source: BBC Audiences, 2008
• 63% of us are online: Young adults tend to be the most advanced internet users with a quarter of 15-24s claiming to use the internet for 'watching TV programmes'. Over half of this age group are 'watching video clips/ webcasts.'
  Source: Ofcom 2008
• Digitally content: the average adult has stored 502 songs, 466 photos, 14 films and 8 games on their digital devices.
  Source: YouGov, 2008
• Virtual fun: The majority of young people have access to a games console. (6 out of 10, 16 to 24 year olds).
  Source: Ofcom 2008

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Page last updated 29 May 2009