Teens use net less than adults: data

Think you spend less time online than your Facebook-obsessed teen? Think again.

You may see their noses stuck to their phones all day but new research shows teens are not as bad as adults when it comes to net usage.

Teenagers spend an average of 14 hours and 42 minutes online over a month, research from the communications watchdog says.

That's compared to the 40 hours and 21 minutes spent online by those aged between 18 and 54, and the 32 hours and 12 minutes online by over-55s.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority says its research, conducted over December 2013, shows there's been a significant change in the last four years on how teenagers use the web.

More are accessing the net through their mobile phones and they're generally looking for some entertainment, blogging life's musings or even doing some banking and finance.

While social media is a big part of their online lives, the data shows sites such as Facebook are becoming less popular.

Fewer are accessing Facebook than they did a year ago.

ACMA says one thing's certain: as children age, the internet becomes an increasingly integral part of their lives, whether it's for social interaction or education.