The study focused on 12- to 18-year-old kids. It found the Internet and other technology actually help young people develop communication skills and explore new learning opportunities.

“I usually use it for MySpace and the social networking things,” said Meghan Page.

Sites like MySpace and Facebook are popular with teens. To many adults, those sites seem like a waste of time. But the sites actually teach kids social skills and how to find knowledge.

“They're hanging out with their friends, they're finding romantic partners, they're trying to develop their status and identity, and they're trying to pursue interests,” said Mimi Ito, a researcher at University of California – Irvine who worked on the study.

The Internet lets teens learn what they want, when they want.

“That is tremendously empowering for kids,” said Ito.

“I am getting to communicate with friends and family,” said Page.

Christopher Smith works with teens through Community Partnership of the Ozarks.

“A lot of them are telling us they don't even bother to check their e-mail. They just do their e-mail through Myspace,” said Smith.

He agrees with the study’s authors that teens are doing the same things that their parents once did, just online.

“They can post graphics, post text, post songs, and all of this stuff is designed to present a certain picture of who they are, and they can take that down and change it the next day. And I think that's what teens have always done - try on new identities and see what works for them,” said Smith.

The technology also helps over-scheduled kids make time for socializing.

“In this world, it is sometimes hard to make that connection, make that phone call and spend 15, 20 minutes catching up with a friend, but you can send them a message, an e-mail or instant message,” said Smith.

Smith, and even teens, agree, however, that real human contact is important too.

“I do telephone or talk to people face to face; it's a lot friendlier,” he said.

Community Partnership of the Ozarks encourages parents to get involved and talk to their kids about dangers like predators and bullying. It says parents shouldn’t be scared to let teens use the Internet, because there can be a lot of benefits.

They suggest that parents have their teens help them set up their own MySpace or Facebook pages, so parents can better understand and monitor what teens are doing online.
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NBC News contributed to this report with the interview of Ito.