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Thursday Jan 03, 2008
Teenagers participate; parents worry - welcome to 2008
What will 2008 bring for young people and their use of technology?Answer: more of it and more often.
You only need to peak at the new US report into teens and social media to know that the intertwining of online and offline is well and truly here for young people.
The PEW report, while focused on American teens, is likely to be reflected in trends here too. Here are some of their findings which I think are most interesting and valid for 2008:
Young internet users expect to participate
64% of 12-17 year old internet users in the US have created online content. That is a massive level of engagement and much bigger than I expected. Media, as predicted has been turned on its head.
But they do it more safely than you would think
Contrary to tabloid hysteria and to what most people would guess, young people are savvier about what they post online than older people. They don't post pictures widely or give out lots of personal information.
Parents still worry
Despite what I've just written above, parents are still worried about their children's online behaviour. This is unlikely to go away. It is their job.
Online activity doesn't replace offline activity
The teenagers that are active online are also active offline. As Danah Boyd points out, there's not necessarily a causal link here but the view that kids who sit at their computers never go outside is obviously untrue.
Email is dead. What about chat and instant messaging?
Communication tools change quickly and social networking has replaced the more traditional online tools for young people. Perhaps micro-blogging will really break out in 2008?
Posted by Dom Waghorn ( 11:51 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]