A new study points to markedly different online behavior between children ages 8-11 and those 12-14, with consequences for

Teens are much more online savvy, spending more time online engaged in communication and on social-networking sites, a new study by eMarketer finds, countering the belief among some that there are little differences in behavior between the two groups. eMarketer found that teens shift away from tween online game-playing behavior to socializing, and concludes that as tweens become more comfortable with online technologies, they will begin to socialize online at a younger age.

As tweens become more comfortable with online technologies, they begin to develop the ability to multitask, more fully developing that ability as teens - leading to shorter spans of time devoted to various online activities, and that has implications for marketers trying to reach them.

Todays tweens are the first generation to have so much control over how when and where they are exposed to media, and as tomorrows teens and adults they will demand even more flexibility of media, according to eMarketer. Moreover, becoming much more brand-savvy and with ever-more influence on purchase decisions, teens will greatly influence family purchases.