We cannot deny that these new generations are extremely technology oriented, most of the time with the all time present cell and smartphones. 88 % of American teenagers have mobile phone (73 % of this smartphones) and the majority of teenagers have access to 4 to 5 electronic devices like desktops, laptops, tablets, i Pad, etc.
These devices are modifying and dictating the new ways that friendship and relationships are developed in our times. A quarter of the teenagers confess to be "constantly" in use of the devices, or visit them several times a day.
The easy access to this kind of phones with internet access and hundred of applications, make this devices very popular among the teenagers and young adults (and a growing number of adults).
Social media like Facebook is still very popular with the youngsters (and adults too), followed by Instagram and Snapchat, most of the individuals (71 %) indicate that they use more than one application.
But depending on different factors (socioeconomic status, level of education of parents, racial group and sex) the popularity of the choices vary.
Boys, are more likely to use the Facebook than girls, and the last ones are more inclined to use the Instagram and Tumblr (in younger teens). Older teens use more Facebok, Snapchat and Twitter.
Middle and upper class teenagers use more the Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.
Texting is still present in the teenager world, with an average of 30 text per day, but now they also use other texting applications like WhatsApp and Kik, with the African-American and Hispanics being their bigger users than whites.
Not surprisingly, girls use more this applications of video call and chatting (Skype, Oovoo, Omegle) than boys, who are more incline to use consoles and phones for gaming devices. In visual applications like online pinboards, girls (older teenagers) are more incline to use this applications.
The application Google+ is used more in the Hispanic teens than black and white teenagers, but the number is growing since Gmail and other Google tools are used in schools for students to work with this sites for school work.
Most of the teenagers keep the same friends across several social media, some with tight groups and other with different friends in the different sites.
As we can see, the way the teenagers are managing their relationships, communicating and sharing experiences and information has been modified and reshaped but the development of the electronic devices and their use.
Reference:
Lenhart, A. (2015, April 9). Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015. Smartphones facilitates shifts in communication landscape for teens. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/
47 pages.
Nice job with this article! Teens are used to technology, but there are a few things we can still teach them, as well!
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