LoveGame - Lady Gaga

The results are in! In a survey last month, Teen Vogue asked readers what it really means to be "hooking up". While some responses seemed to reflect predictable teen behavior, there were, admittedly, a few that really shocked us. The survey, accounting for 2,287 responses, reveals that the average age for having a first kiss is 13 (fair enough), and that the average age of having sex for the first time is 15 (yikes!). Another shocker the survey suggests is that 22% of teens did not use protection the first time they had sex, and 23% never use protection. With stats like these, it's no wonder teen pregnancy is on the rise.

According to the survey, more than half of those who answered do not count oral sex as "sex," even though one can still contract an STD or STI this way.

The true meaning of "hooking up" remains a rather ambiguous term, but the survey shows that the general view has a lot to do with safety. "[Hooking up] is fine, as long as you're being safe," (as in practicing safe sex) was a common response to the open-ended question.

Read on for the full results!
Would you say most of your friends are dating?
Yes 57%
No 43%

Do your parents let you date?
Yes 82.7%
No 17.3%

If not, is there a certain age at which they will allow it?
13 6.2%
14 4%
15 11.4%
16 25.1%
17 12%
18+ 41.2%

Would you (or have you) ever gone behind their back to date someone or had a secret boyfriend/girlfriend?
Yes 60.8%
No 39.2%

At what age did you have your first kiss?
Avg 13

At what age did you first have sex?
Avg 15

Did you use protection the first time you had sex?
Yes 77.9%
No 22.1%

What counts as "hooking up"?
Kissing 79.3%
Touching 53.4%
Oral sex 46.2%
Sex 47.2%
Other 11.9%

How many people have you hooked up with?
1-3 60.7%
3-5 14.6%
5-7 8.7%
7-10 5.9%
10+ 10%

Where do you hook up? (Check all that apply)
School 25.5%
Home 41.2%
Friend's house 55.4%
Other 56.4%
*Recurring write-in for "Other" was "parties"

How often do you practice safe sex (use a condom or other means of birth control)?
Always 62.4%
Almost always 9.7%
Sometimes 4.9%
Never 23.0%

Does oral sex count as "sex"?
Yes 44.6%
No 55.4%

Do you perceive oral sex to be more acceptable/appropriate than sex?
Yes 33.8%
No 66.2%

Are you worried about getting an STI?
Yes 61.1%
No 38.9%

Have your parents talked to you about sex/hooking up?
Yes 63.6%
No 36.4%

How old were you when they had "the talk"?
12 and under 44.5%
13-15 42.7%
15-18 11.7%
19 and up 1.1%

If so, did your find their talk to be effective/useful?
Yes 57.6%
No 42.4%

Have you ever sent/posted partially clad/nude photos of yourself to a guy/girl?
Yes 25.1%
No 74.9%

If you don't have an exclusive partner, how many people do you think it's OK to hook up with at the same time?
2 74.6%
3 16.0%
4 2.1%
5+ 7.3%

Do you think there's a double standard in regards to hooking up when it comes to guys versus girls?
Yes 73.7%
No 26.3%

Talk Back: What's your general view on hooking up?
*Here are a few sample write-in responses from the survey:

"I think it's generally harmless, as long as you're safe, and you and your partner have the same feelings and expectations."

"It's one of the early processes before dating or a serious relationship."

"I think that the term 'hook up' is very unclear. To me it's just kissing, but to my friends I know it can mean different things."

"It just depends how far you take things...kissing is ok, but when it gets to the point of feeling uncomfortable, then it's not ok."

"Hooking up at a party or other group event always leads to trouble. The rate at which rumors fly around, especially in high school, is insane!"

"I think that when you're ready or feel you want to be more experienced, then you can do whatever, but only if you're ready. Don't do something because you're forced to and/or feel pressured to do so. Don't do something you'll regret because you'll never be able to take it back. And always be safe about things."

For those of you who didn't participate in the survey, what do you think about these findings? Sound off!

Also, read Teen Vogue's June/July issue feature, Modern Romance, by Suzanne D'Amato, for more of the scoop on where, when, and how teens these days are "hooking up".