Another study published in 2005 by Pew Internet and American Life Project found that 87 percent of American teens age 12 to 17 used the Internet in 2004, up from 73 percent in 2000. The frequency of teens' online usage rose 51 percent in that time frame, and the number of teens who report they go online daily was up from 42 percent in 2000. Pew also found 51 percent of online teens live in homes with broadband Internet access.

Knowing this, its surprising there aren’t more teen focused health sites out there. Now whether the results from a quick Google search is a truly reflective of missing sites, or more a case of poor site taxonomy and SOA best practices, that remains a mystery. Some of the sites that did turn up after digging a little deeper, and are positive resources for teens include:

eHealth 4 Teens  – provides a variety of information on health topics, local activities, important resources and referral lines. EH4T features interactive games, quizzes, personal health assessments and other services. The site was created with help of high school students and staff from the Multnomah County Health Department School-Based Health Center Program in Portland, Oregon, with the purpose of addressing the health care needs of Multnomah County’s most vulnerable youth.

TeensHealth -  was created in 1995 for teens looking for honest, accurate information and advice about health, relationships, and growing up. A safe, private place that's accessible 24 hours a day to get the doctor-approved info teens need to understand the changes that they may be going through.   Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, TeensHealth and KidsHealth provide teens and families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use.

Learn to be healthy - is an online health science learning site designed to provide students, kindergarten through grade six, and their teachers, resources on important health topics.  With separate “student” and “educator” areas, the site contains comprehensive lesson plans, interactive games and activities, webquests and more. The goal of the site is to inspire children – and their families – to make healthy choices that will last a lifetime.

AADAC for Youth and Kids – with two separate sites dedicated to the different age brackets, Alberta’s Alcohol and Drug Addictions Commission provides more than just drug and alcohol related information.  These sites also address important topics such as tobacco use, bullying and gambling, as well as feelings, friendships and anger management.  AADAC provides useful resources, as well as games, stories and interactive tools to help kids, teens, and their families be informed on addictions related topics.

As will most good things, come the bad.  An even further delve into health related sites teens visit found the frightened end of the information spectrum.  Website that teach readers how to be a successful anorexic, bulimic or bully.  It is true, believe it or not. (URLs for these sites have intentionally been omitted from this post.)

So while many of our kids out shine us when it comes to navigating their way around the web, it is important, as parents, that we don’t deny our kids access to the Internet, but instead learn more about what sites they're visiting and talk with them about what they are reading and answer questions they may have.  Better yet, surf the web together, who knows, as parents, we will probably learn a thing or two.