The Kaiser Family Foundation today released the results of a big survey that analyzed media use by children in the 8-18 age demographic, and the results probably won't surprise you.

In short, kids last year used cellphones and portable multimedia devices a lot more than they did in 2004. (But didn't you have a gut feeling that would be the case?)

The highlights of the report:

* Over the last five years, kids in the age range saw a "huge increase" in ownership of cell phones (39% to 66%) and iPods and other MP3 players (18% to 76%).

* About three in 10 young people say their parents set rules for multimedia consumption, i.e. TV, video games, computer usage.

* Two-thirds of young people say the TV is on in the home during meals, and 45% said the TV was left on in the home, even when no one was watching.

* Heavy media users reported getting lower grades. (Though the connection between media use and grades is not easy to establish, the report cautioned.)

* Black and Hispanic children spend more time with media than white children do.

* Big changes in TV, the report says -- The average amount of time spent watching regularly scheduled TV dropped by 25 minutes a day, but the new ways people consume video (Internet, cellphones, MP3 players) led to an actual INCREASE in total TV consumption

* What about good ol' fashion reading? Time spent reading books didn't drop over the five year period, but time with magazines and newspapers did.

* Girls spent more time on social networking sites, listening to music, and reading, while boys spent more time playing console video games, computer games, and watching video sites, like Youtube.

(Photo credit: Australian public service ad warning against distracted iPod listening via Engadget)