The survey included 1,102 youth ages 12-17. According to the results, game playing is universal, with almost all teens playing games and at least half playing games on a given day. To be more precise, it seems that 97% of American teens ages 12-17 play some kind of video game, with 99% of boys and 94% of girls reporting that they play games.

Teens tend to play at least five different categories of games and 40% of them play eight or more different game types. Some teens play violent video games, but they also play non-violent games.

"The stereotype that gaming is a solitary, violent, anti-social activity just doesn’t hold up. The average teen plays all different kinds of games and generally plays them with friends and family both online and offline," said Amanda Lenhart, author of a report on the survey and a Senior Research Specialist with the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which conducted the survey.

"Gaming is a ubiquitous part of life for both boys and girls. For most teens, gaming runs the spectrum from blow-‘em-up mayhem to building communities; from cute-and-simple to complex; from brief private sessions to hours’ long interactions with masses of others."

Additional findings include:

– 76% of gaming teens play games with others at least some of the time.
– 82% play games alone at least occasionally, though 71% of this group also plays games with others.
– 65% of gaming teens play with others in the same room.
– 76% of youth report helping others while gaming.
– 44% report playing games where they learn about a problem in society.