According to new research, the number of young Americans who are living with credit cards has decreased since the recession.

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According to data that credit score provider FICO collected from the credit files of millions of consumers: "About 16% of consumers ages 18 to 29 didn't have a single credit card by the end of 2012 - up from 8% in 2007, as a result, credit card debt has declined by about a third among this age group - from an average $3,073 to $2,087 per person."

Many younger Americans have decided to choose debit cards instead of credit cards after they have witnessed the older generations get hit hard by the recession. 

"Prepaid cards have also become attractive alternatives", said John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com. "There has been very aggressive marketing of prepaid debit cards over the past few years targeting young people and minorities," he said. "So it's not a surprise that more young people are using prepaid debit cards over credit cards."

FICO has also found that the consumers under 21 have become harder to apply for credit cards because of the CARD Act.