Results from the most extensive U.S. study on teens and their use of digital media show that America's youth are developing important social and technical skills online -- often in ways adults do not understand or value. "It might surprise parents to learn that it is not a waste of time for their teens to hang out online," said Mizuko Ito, University of California, Irvine researcher and the report's lead author. "There are myths about kids spending time online -- that it is dangerous or making them lazy. But we found that spending time online is essential for young people to pick up the social and technical skills they need to be competent citizens in the digital age. It concludes that learning today is becoming increasingly peer-based and networked, and this is important to consider as we begin to re-imagine education in the 21st century."
Significant findings include:
- There is a generation gap in how youth and adults view the value of online activity. Adults tend to be in the dark about what youth are doing online, and often view online activity as risky or an unproductive distraction. Youth understand the social value of online activity and are generally highly motivated to participate.
- Youth are navigating complex social and technical worlds by participating online. Young people are learning basic social and technical skills that they need to fully participate in contemporary society. The social worlds that youth are negotiating have new kinds of dynamics, as online socializing is permanent, public, involves managing elaborate networks of friends and acquaintances, and is always on.
- Young people are motivated to learn from their peers online. The Internet provides new kinds of public spaces for youth to interact and receive feedback from one another. Young people respect each other's authority online and are more motivated to learn from each other than from adults.
- Most youth are not taking full advantage of the learning opportunities of the Internet. Most youth use the Internet socially, but other learning opportunities exist. Youth can connect with people in different locations and of different ages who share their interests, making it possible to pursue interests that might not be popular or valued with their local peer groups. "Geeked-out" learning opportunities are abundant -- subjects like astronomy, creative writing and foreign languages.
21 comments:
I like using the internet socially, and educationally. I use it more to shop and stalk celebs. I thinks the positive aspects outweigh the negative. I agree it make us kida lazy but there is so much interesting stuff on the web and i personally get easily distracted and lose track of time.
I use the internet all the time, for a varies amount of things! I do think that there are more positive things than negative when it comes to teens and the web. Some abuse it though, and that makes parents think that every teenager is doing that certain thing. But most of us have the common sense not to add someone we don't' know, and not to befriend a 40 year old creeper! The internet has alot of info and I think more people should utilize it!
Its good but their are bad things about it to. yea being on it may help you, but getting outside is still good for people. The computer isn't the answer to everything
holmer is wrong!
yeah i like to go outside and just walk around, swim etc BUT in our day and age the internet is our biggest resource to the world outside our little town.
back in our parents day not very many of them had plans to go out of our community or at least not very far. we have so many opportunities because of the internet! i know more things about the college i want to attend than i would otherwise.
i do almost all of my school work on the internet and its a great way to keep up with friends that you dont see in school
i dont know what i would do with out it!
I think that there are way more positives on the internet than negatives. Sure there are some bad sites, but not everyone goes on them. Teens know mostly what they are doing on the internet and are responsible. We can talk to people that we don't see a lot and research so much! Like Shaylah said with the college thing, I wouldn't know anything besides what the internet tells me. And we can look up so much information. I don't know what i would do without it either1
I agree. I use it a lot for several things things. I just think kids should use it more responsibly instead of meeting some creeper on myspace.
I like using the internet most of the time. There are more positive things online i think but it helps us to prepare for our future and get us ready for the future.
i agree with homes the internet does have its purpose but finding things out first hand is better.
I think the internet is a great way for people to interact with each other. They also get way more opportunities that maybe their community doesn't offer.
The internet contains a lot of useful materials for educational purposes. It is also helpful for staying in touch with loved ones; as you can see and read about what they have been up to.
The internet is a good tool but people rely on it to much.
Grumble grumble grumble...
And that is why I am constantly on the internet because I can be lol. but yea why would a computer filled with knowledge make them dumber?
internet is a great tool to look at stuff blog and all that and there bad things about the internet too like false info and others stuff but it a great tool to use.
I think that the internet really isn't as bad as adults think. Learning all of these facts really made we think that the info on the internet is good alot of times, but I also think that some teens spend way to much time on line and sometimes it isn't healthy.
I like the internet. I use it all the time from looking up things for education purposes to personal reason...like facebook and email. Yeah we are kinda lazy and its not as bad as adults think, i guess it can be bad if you don't know what your doing.
i think it is good thing but yet people do have to get out and do things face to face instead of doing everything over the internet.
I usually just go on the internet to listen to music or do homework, but I know alot of people who use it to learn.
I'm always looking up some random thing online. Online is the way the of the future so people should be promoting this stuff. It is important to get out though.
I love the internet. Google is my hero! It has so much information. But sometimes that is the downside. People abuse it and makes everyone think its bad.
I love using the internet i think it is a good thing and if teens want to use the internet for good uses not bad uses then i think that people or teens should be able to use it
i think if they only used it for education it would be alright but there are to many distracting thigs
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