Teens and Technology Use

Recently I've come across an ABC news article and an article from the San Francisco Chronicle which summarize current findings from organizations such as the Pew Internet and American Life Project concerning teen use of technology. Some findings include:

• Only 14% of teens use email to stay in touch with friends.
• Cell phone use continues to grow while text messaging (surprisingly) is on the decline, as is the use of instant messaging programs. Social networking sites seem to be taking the place of these tools.
• Almost 2/3 of online teens have created their own web content.
• Teenagers do a better job than adults in restricting their personal online content.
• Teenage girls are more likely to blog, but teenage boys are more likely to share video content.

What this says to me:

• It is a bit unnerving to see so many teachers (and parents) uncomfortable using email when teens are past using email and utilizing other forums for communication. Will these teachers and parents ever catch up?
• Creating web content is becoming a norm, not just in business, but also for social interaction. Our writing standards should include helping students write effectively for online publications, such as blogs, technical instructions, etc.
• We have a lot to learn from our students.

What are your thoughts about these trends? Feel free to share them as a comment to this post.