Summary:
To help us, and other organisations who aim to support young people, we have looked at how digital communications have impacted on the psychological and neurological behaviour of young people – and the challenges this poses for agencies and organisations who aim to support them.
The below facts and figures have been taken from the report Life Support: Young people’s needs in a digital age.
Digital natives
Young people aged 16 to 24 are digital natives, meaning that the internet is a ‘natural’ space for them and is fully integrated in to their lives.
The fact that young people can interact, maintain their anonymity and compare information sources empowers them.
Young people’s use of ‘new media’ allows them to create a continuous stream of multiple conversations, interweaving differing media formats. They associate the internet with a strong sense of community.
Young people use a number of digital devices and different modes of communication, at the same time.
- 45% of young people said they felt happiest when they were online
- 75% of young people claimed that they couldn’t live without the internet
- 86% loved how new technology helps them communicate with people
- 96% of 16 to 24 year olds say they use another media device whilst using the internet
Trust and safety
Young people have a predominately confident yet cautious approach to the online environment. To a great extent they have the ability to see through posted information.
Young people have developed strategies for proof verification and use multiple sources of information both on and offline to check information.
- 76% of those surveyed felt the internet is a safe place as long as you know what you’re doing.
Advice on the internet
The internet plays a role in the full process of getting advice and taking action, rated alongside family and friends as a source of advice in stressful situations.
Young people will go to different sources for advice, depending on the topic. The internet is in the top three sources for advice across all issues.
The benefit of anonymity was perceived to be an important benefit of internet advice-seeking, particularly for women. The single most important reason for 43% of young people using the internet for advice-seeking in stressful situations was that the internet is anonymous.
Being able to give back to others from their own experience is important to young people, who seek the opportunity to directly engage and share their personal experiences with others in a similar situation.
- 82% of young people said they had used the internet to look for advice and information for themselves.
- 71% stated that when looking for help and advice it is best to find as many sources of information as possible.
- 43% of young people prefer sites where they have the opportunity to provide advice as well as receive it.
Undertaken by Professor Michael Hulme of the Institute for Advanced Studies, Lancaster University, and commissioned by charity YouthNet, the report draws together literature and new research conducted with 994 young people aged 16 to 24 (funded by Nominet Trust).
