Recent data from a special study conducted by Nielsen Online, on behalf of ONDCP, which monitored the online viewing habits of teens in June 2008, reveal that today’s tech-savvy teens are exposed to dangerous, drug-related content through the Internet.

The analysis also shows that viewer comments posted to drug-related videos overwhelmingly support or suggest acceptance of the video content.

• Teens who watched videos online in a one-month period were exposed to 1.2 million drug-related videos.
• Nearly one million teens, or 5 percent of teens online, viewed drug-related videos in June.
• More than a third (35%) of teens who viewed drug-related video are younger than 16.
• Significantly more girls than boys watch drug-related videos. Fifty-seven percent of viewers were girls; 43 percent boys.
• Almost 40 percent of drug-related videos contain explicit use of drugs and/or intoxication.
• Eighty-five percent of videos containing explicit drug use or intoxication also have comments that promote substance abuse.
• Comments on drug-related videos with music or humor were overwhelmingly (87%) positive about the content of the video.

Source: “Teen Viewing of Drug and Alcohol-Related Videos Online: Custom Study Conducted on behalf of ONDCP.” Nielsen Online, June 2008.