Monday, April 28, 2014

Pew Research - Teens & Technology: Understanding the Digital Landscape

Lenhart, A. (2014). Teens & technology: understanding the digital landscape.  Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/25/teens-technology-understanding-the-digital-landscape/

While 95% of teens use the internet, 71% of teen computer users say the computer they use most often is shared with other family members.   However, teen internet use is becoming increasingly mobile with 78% having a cell phone and three in four saying they access the internet on cell phones, tablets, and mobile devices at least occasionally.  The use of smart phones by teens is increasing.

Texting is teens preferred method of communicating.  I can vouch for that.  My 16-year-old son would rather I texted him than call him.  In fact, he sounds downright annoyed on those rare occasions when I venture to communicate orally with him.  He, like most teens, prefers short succinct messages over eloquent speech. The typical teen receives 60 texts per day.  Older girls received a median of 100 texts per day in 2011.  Geez, I hope their parents had unlimited texting plans.

More than half of all teens have downloaded apps to their cell phones or tablets.  26% have uninstalled an app because they found it was collecting personal information.  46% have turned off location tracking features over privacy concerns.  It may also be because their parents talked to them about it or asked them to disable tracking features.

Facebook is considered by some to be “dead;” however, usage remained about the same from 2011 to 2012.  Teens complain about the adult presence, the drama, and the too-much-information aspect of Facebook.  Twitter use by teens has risen.  Like texting, it is short and snappy snippets of thoughts or conversation.  Instagram has also become popular among teens.  MySpace usage, conversely, has diminished.

 A lot of time is devoted to reputation and network management among teens.  74% have deleted people from their network and 59% have deleted something that they posted in the past or deleted comments from others.  Ever wish you could take back something you said?  With online social media, you can.  And if no one has read it, it was never even said.



[24 pages]

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