“How do [they] even do that “How do [they] even do that?” A Pew Internet guide to teens, mobile phones and social media Amanda Lenhart June 2010 Lawlor | Hardwick-Day Summer Seminar Minneapolis, MN
Methods 800 teens ages 12 to 17 and a parent or guardian were contacted by landline or cellular telephone in a nationally representative rdd survey conducted from June to September 2009. 9 focus groups in four cities with middle and high school aged teens (ages 12-18) conducted in June and October 2009 Joint project of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and the University of Michigan. Data from adult surveys from Sept 2009 & January 2010 June 2010
How do they do that – or do they? Commonly held beliefs about teens, young adults and technology: Everyone uses the internet Every teen has a cell phone… … and all teens text unimaginably large numbers of messages a day Teens no longer call anyone on the phone Parents and K-12 schools struggle with management of teens’ phones Teens have been supplanted by older adults on social networks Teens love Twitter Young adults don’t care about privacy, particularly online Teens are active creators of content online Commonly held beliefs about how teens and adults use the internet – but are they true? False? Or somewhere in between? June 2010
EveryOne Uses the Internet Mostly true, except Afterworkers & very poor June 2010
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Every Teen & Young Adult Has a Cell Phone… Not quite – three quarters do, but one quarter don’t. Some share. May 2010
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…and they send and receive an unimaginably large Number of texts every day. For the top 30+%, yes. But note the 1/5th of teens who don’t text much. Teens aren’t monolithic. May 2010
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Teens No longer make phone calls. They do, and they call pretty much just like adults, at least in NUMBER of calls. Don’t know duration. May 2010
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Teens who pay for phone costs are more likely to do more with cell phone 9/2/2019
Parents and Schools Struggle with management of teens’ cell phones True. May 2010
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Teens & young adults have been supplanted by older adults on social networks Not true. 9/2/2019
Teens Love Twitter Nope! May 2010
Young Adults don’t care about their privacy, especially Online They’re less concerned, but more likely to take action to protect information.
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Works both ways – concerned about privacy, know that you are looking at them, evaluating them, but they are also doing the same to you. If you don’t have a strong web presence… two way street. 9/2/2019
Social networking users are curators of content Thinking about the ways you use social networking sites… Do you ever… All SNS users 18-29 30-49 50+ Change the privacy settings for your profile to limit what you share with others online 65 71 62 52 Delete people from your network or friends’ list 56 64 42 Keep some people from seeing certain updates 58 36 Filter updates posted by some of your friends 41 44 43 27 Delete comments that others have made on your profile 47 29 24 Remove your name from photos that have been tagged to identify you 30 16 Post updates, comments, photos or videos that you later regret sharing 12 19 9 4
Teens create a substantial amount of content online They used to – but do it less now.
Final Thoughts Cell phones leap frog connectivity roadblocks for low income, minority teens and adults Teens and young adults are not monolithic – so a multi-pronged approach is prudent Changes suggest a move towards mobile… …but teens and young adults do not always embrace the newest thing Young adults know that you are watching, and are increasingly taking steps to manage their online reputations 9/2/2019
Amanda Lenhart http://www.pewinternet.org Twitter: @amanda_lenhart Thanks! Amanda Lenhart http://www.pewinternet.org Twitter: @amanda_lenhart