Transcript Generation IM: Teens and Technology

Generation IM: Teens and
Technology
The Findings of the Pew Internet & American Life Project
Amanda Lenhart
Hommoks Middle School, Larchmont, NY
October 8, 2003
Who we are
• Pew Internet & American Life Project
• Non-profit, non-partisan research center
devoted to the study of the social effects of
the Internet on Americans
• Fully-funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts,
a large Philadelphia-based philanthropy
How we do our research
• Random digit dial national telephone
surveys
• Focus groups—online and in-person
• Email interviews
Overview
• The basics of Internet use
• Generation IM
• IM basics: what is it, who uses it, and how
do they use it
• Benefits and drawbacks to IM use
• The future: new programs, technologies and
uses
The Basics: Who is Online?
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63% of Americans go online
78% of youth 12-17 go online
Internet population growth is stagnant
Internet population is fluid
– Net Dropouts: 17% of non-users
– Net Evaders: 20% of non-users
– Intermittent users: about 1/3 of current users
But we’re hear to talk about
‘tweens and teens
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78% of American youth go online
92% of online teen use email
84% surf the Net for fun
71% of online teens said that they used the
Internet as the major source for their most recent
big school project
• 74% of online teens use IM
• 66% of younger teens (12-14) who go online and
use IM, compared to 81% of older teens (15-17)
What is Instant messaging?
• “Instant messaging is a text-based tool that allows
users to hold an online conversation by
exchanging short messages in near synchronicity
with others over the Internet”
• Presence
• AIM still most popular: ICQ original (circa 1996),
MSN, Yahoo
• Can only IM within programs, not between—
unless you use a third program (Trillian, Jabber,
etc)
How is Instant Messaging
used?
• Multiple, private, almost synchronous
conversations. Generally not used for group chat,
though it is possible.
• 74% of online teens use IM, vs 47% of online
adults.
• 69% of IMing teens use it several times a week—
close to half use it every time they log on
• About 1 in 5 teens say IM is the main way they
communicate with their friends
• Multi-tasking
What is IM used for?
• “Checking in”—relationship reinforcement
and maintenance
• Mostly for chatting with near-by friends,
family, but also camp/summer friends
• Asking out (13%)
• Breaking up (17%)
• “Difficult” conversations, fights
Mediated communication
• IM is mediated by a screen—protected from
emotional reactions
• Phone, letters, email also mediated—there
is a “technology” between you and the
person with whom you are communicating
• Lack of cues
J: romeo u there
R: yo wassup
J: nothin’, u?
R: skool sucked 2day
J: heard wylander got mad at u
R: what a jerk i used purpl ink
on the sci test and he got pissed he
lookjs like jimminy crickt
J: lol
R: going to nicks party
J: cant i’m grounded
R: y
J: cardoza called home, sez im failig
Spanish btw my rents hate u
R: mine hate u 2
J: my dads coming gtg
R: k bye
J: xoxoxoxo bye see u tmw
R: xoxoxoxoxoxoxo gtg
J: k
Identity management
• Multiple email addresses and screen names
for different parts of the personality or
different personas
– 21% of online youth have 4 or more email
addresses
• “True selves” online
Benefits of IM
• Comfort in a textual environment
• Multi-tasking—21st century workforce
skill?
• Able to maintain more relationships, more
in touch
• It’s fun
Drawbacks to IM
• Navigating relationships is harder without social
cues
• Who are you talking to, really?
– Pranks, tricks
– Strangers
• Facilitates the good and bad of being a teen
– Improves friendships
– But facilitates gossip and cliquishness
– Makes it easier to “approach” others without fear of
rejection (new friends and bf/gf)
– And easier to say things that you wouldn’t say face to
face
So, what’s a parent to do?
• Stay involved
• Set limits
• Do not allow the public posting of personal
information (profiles, websites)
• Teach kids to protect their privacy, and why
• Teach that the web and Internet are public
spaces—like public park
So, what’s a parent to do (2)
• Create an environment of openness
– Loss of net privileges as punishment for wrongdoing is
one thing
– But kids clam up if they think ‘Net might be taken
away
• And if you find out about wrongdoing or shocking
behavior by your child, use it as a teachable
moment
What does the future hold?
(If it’s not here already…)
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Video/Audio IM
IM on cell phones
SMS
3° (Three Degrees)—MS broadband, IMbased group communications platform
http://www.pewinternet.org
Amanda Lenhart
Research Specialist
Pew Internet & American Life Project
1100 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036