What do we use our cell phones for?

So what do you imagine is the most common use of cellphones? If you said to post pictures of your cat, you wouldn't be far wrong. It's taking photos, slightly edging out sending and receiving text messages.

Recently, the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project combined the results of two surveys conducted in 2012, speaking to some 5000 Americans on landline and cell phones in English and Spanish. The result was Cell Phone Activities 2012.

As we can see simply by walking down a crowded sidewalk, a vast majority of Americans own a cell phone - 85 percent.

Overall, the data shows virtually no difference in usage between men and women. But there are vast differences between young and old. For instance, while some 97 percent of owners between 18 and 29 use text messaging, only 34 percent of those over 65 do. The same age difference is even more profound when it comes to accessing the Internet: 77 percent of 18-29ers do it; just 13 percent of those over 65 do.

While there are also differences for income and education, those are not nearly as stark. For instance, 70 percent of cell phone owners making over $75,000 a year access email on their phones, but only 39 percent of those making less than $30,000 a year do. However, when it comes to racial groups, there is essentially no difference in most categories. Accessing the Internet and online banking are, though, surprising. While 52 percent of whites access the Internet on their cells, 60 percent of blacks and 66 percent of Hispanics do. And 26 percent of whites use cells for banking, while 34 and 35 percent respectively of blacks and Hispanics do so. That may be because a higher percentage of those two groups depend on mobiles for all Internet access.

Basically, though, the more advanced the technology, the greater the age differences. When it comes to downloading apps, 65 percent of those between 18 and 29 do so, but only 8 percent of seniors do.

Read the whole fascinating report and find out about other activities, such as banking, recording video and accessing health information.

Cell Phone Activities 2012, full report (Pew Internet, Nov. 25, 2012)

Cell Phone Activities 2012 news release (Pew Internet, Nov. 25, 2012)