It's hard to know exactly how many kids and teens have mobile phones right now, but we do know that over a year ago more than a third (37%) of US 12-to-17-year-olds had smartphones, up from 23% in 2011, and a whopping 78% had some kind of mobile phone. That's from the Pew Internet Project, one of the best US sources on youth and tech. We also know that mobile phones are how young people access … [Read more...] about New from ConnectSafely: ‘A Parents’ Guide to Mobile Phones’
teens
Social media reality check from Canadian youth: Key study
Before releasing its report on online conflict, MediaSmarts presented a much broader picture of young Canadians' experiences in social media: "Life Online." This is important context for any discussion about cyberbullying and other negative aspects of digitally informed life, whether we're setting policy at the household, school or national levels. "There are a lot of assumptions out there … [Read more...] about Social media reality check from Canadian youth: Key study
Nothing complicated about this: Read ‘It’s Complicated’!
Why is the title of social media researcher danah boyd's new book "It's Complicated"? Not just because "the social lives of networked teens" are complicated (the book's subtitle), but growing up in a networked world is too. And I'd add that it's further complicated when the adults in a teen's life don't have any idea how complicated it is – when they reduce it to "too much screen time." What's not … [Read more...] about Nothing complicated about this: Read ‘It’s Complicated’!
10-year-old Facebook: Data
How could anybody so young have a following in every country on the planet? Facebook turns 10 today and – as of December 31 – has 1.23 billion active users, CNET reports. More than 750 million of them are active on the site daily. Looking at US Facebook use, the Pew Internet Project provides even more insight in a blog post timed to the site's birthday. Pew reports that 57% of US adults use … [Read more...] about 10-year-old Facebook: Data
At the top of kids’ wish lists
Eighty-eight percent of US 12-to-17-year-olds want something digital for the holidays this year, CNET reports, and 69% want an Apple product. For girls (and teens overall), the iPhone tops wish lists, for boys it's the PlayStation 4. The iPad and Xbox One were close to the top, followed by an Apple iPod. The survey, by market researcher TNS Global for Ebates.com found that parents' guesses about … [Read more...] about At the top of kids’ wish lists