13 Things to Know About Teens and Technology

13 Things to Know About Teens and Technology. (2014, July 23). Retrieved November 25, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/07/23/13-things-to-know-about-teens-and-technology/

I liked how this presentation went.  It started off saying that teens are really no different than anyone else, they are just living in a highly digitized world.  I cannot tell you how many times I have heard that "teens nowadays....fill in the blank with something negative."  This is the first time I have heard that teens are really no different now than they have ever been.  The only difference is that they are living in a fast-paced, highly connected world.  It may not always demand your attention, but it is definitely in your face most of the time.

The opening statement really made me think, perhaps kids really shouldn't have access to all of these many forms of technology, because they do not have the social/emotional skills to "know," what they are doing.   Of course I cannot speak for every teen, but only my own.  I do think parents should probably ask themselves that question more and seriously think about it.  You could say that we are "pioneers" in this new world.  The affects of living in such a world are unknown, we don't really know where all of this "connectedness," is taking us, but maybe we should think about it more.

Technological Use-A Breakdown

I made a graph illustrating the percentages of technology use among teens.  Every category is high, so I have to say that I agree with the findings.  When I go places I do see lots of people on their phones, so I do not doubt that this is the case.  The only thing that this article lacked was who was surveyed and how many teens.  It would have been interesting to know.    

It was popular in my teen years to say you were living in a "material world," but now apparently it has become a "networked world."   According to the article, technology is pervasive, portable, persistent, personal, participatory, spreadable, linked, editable, replicable, immediate, searchable and timeless."  

It used to be computers were only for the home and school and phones were for only making phone calls, but somehow someway the two merged into one larger entity.  It has now become a way to live. It demands your attention.  I would like to think that you could live without a smartphone or even a computer, but I don't know now if you really could.  There are so many things online and so many places that require you to do things on their "website."  I honestly don't know if it could be done.  It would be an interesting experiment.  

Teens are just a reflection of ourselves

According to the article 76% of teachers say the internet has had a positive effect on research work, but 87% say that it has produced a generation of distracted learners.  I have to say that this now goes for the population at large.  It is not just with teens, it is with everyone!  How many times have phone calls, texting, surfing the internet interrupted your family time, took the place of a conversation you could have had with a person you just met?  or distracted someone at a store or business?  Honestly everytime I go out I see it happen all the time, everyday.    

This article is a reflection of the world at large.  Teens are just part of the picture.  The article also said that 83% of teens agreed that the amount of information available online is overwhelming, but yet 90% said that it encourages them to learn about topics of interest to them.  Again, this tells me that maybe we should become more cognizant of how we are using technology.  Is it more important to stay "connected," than to actually interact with the people physically around us?  

Learning and how we choose to stay connected

According to the presentation the old style of learning was passive.  It was something we accomplished through hard work or excelled at because of our natural abilities.  Now the new way of learning is more about doing, creating and managing our own learning, using technological tools to our advantage.  The ones who are consciously using them to their advantage will lead.  It isn't that the old way is obsolete, it's just that new way of learning can even the playing field a little more.  

Once you've found out that the new way of learning exists, then learning about the many forms of information can be pretty beneficial.  There are six:  stacks, signals, snacks, streams, socials and synthesized spaces.  Stacks deals with the digitized forms of information, same as a book, but in electronic form.  It's more accessible to all.  Signals deals with current, up to the minute information. Snacks has to do with games online, a way to pass the time.  Streams has to do with information as it goes by, usually news or social stuff on people.  It's a way to know what others have been up to.   Socials, deals with friendships and relating with people on a personal level.  Synthesized spaces deals with your personal web footprint.  How much you allow the world to know about you.  

Final Thoughts

So although this was a presentation on teens and technology, it really had a lot to do with everyone and how we choose to utilize technology.  Perhaps we shouldn't mindlessly use technology, or have it take over our lives, but instead use it to enhance our lives. Yes, technology is great, but know that it is only a tool, one that can improve our lives or ruin our lives, depending on how we consciously decide to use it.   

Presentation length:  55 pages