Teens, Social Media, and Technology Overview 2015

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Teens, Social Media, and Technology Overview 2015

Lenhart, A., K., & Page, D. (2015). Teens, social media, and technology overview 2015. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/


With so much technology available at the touch of a button, it is easy to be entertained.  However, it's also just as easy to become overwhelmed and even bored.  The overload of technology doesn't deter teenagers from engaging constantly.  Most teenagers have access to some sort of social media and technology every day.

According to this article, Facebook is not dead.  One can deduce that a healthy amount of teens is still using Facebook. The face that almost half use it is comforting for a librarian who want to use it to market and create advocacy for the library.  Furthermore, almost as many teens use Snapchat.  This is something else librarians can capitalize on to promote learning and incorporate more, or an extension of project-based learning.

What's even more beneficial for the education world is that 72% of teens use more than one social networking site.  It broadens the playing field for teachers and for librarians to facilitate lessons and provide sources.  More specifically, the report discloses that upper to middle class teens lean more toward Instagram and Snapchat, making Facebook to be the popular choice with lower income groups.  This fact is important to think about.  Incorporating different social networking tools can provide a more custom-made feel for students who fall in these categories.  Lower income students tend to be struggling readers; therefore, making Facebook the technology forum of choice - or more favorable solely on this characteristic.  On the other side of the spectrum, the wealthiest teens prefer Twitter. Also something to think about.

Regarding the "oldie but goodies", texting is something 90% of students do. The average is about 30 texts a day.  Girls dominate social media use while boys are more likely to use video games.

But what are teens using to get connected? (This fact shocked me.) Only 30% have an actual cell phone, a little over half have smartphones, but 87% are connecting with a desktop or laptop computer.  Also, a healthy amount of teens have access to a gaming console, more boys than girls use these.

Ninety-two percent (92%) of teens use technology on the daily basis. That's almost all teens! The canvas is available for educators and librarians to part take of the this face and tailor the interactive experience for students.

Ultimately, teens provide the forum for educators to plug in with other technologies. I strongly encourage new librarians, educators, and administrators - even parents, to capitalize on how involved teens are with social media and technology.

(48 pages)

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