Infographic-Teens and Online Video

Lenhart, A. (2012). Teens & Online Video. Pew Internet & American Life Project,1-13.

     Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Teens-and-online-video.aspx

   

     Today, many teens are using their mobile phones or tablets to get on social networks in order to socialize with their friends and family.  They can post their status for everyone  to see on Facebook or Twitter.  They also upload many pictures of themselves, their location, and what they are eating.  Increasingly, many teens are now turning to online videos to communicate in the social media.
     In a survey conducted by Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, 799 teens were given a survey on online videos.  It turns out that 37% would participate in internet video chats, 27% of teens record and upload videos to the internet, and 13% of internet using teens would stream video live to the internet for other people to watch.  
     An interesting finding in this research was that the use of online video was not increasing because more teens had smartphones or other devices.  It did say that as more teens entered the social networks, the numbers using online video was increasing.

Video Chatting

     In the survey, it said that teens were using applications for Video Chatting, such as Skype, iChat, or Googletalk.  It also said that girls (42%) were more likely to video chat than boys (33%).  The survey also said that teens with parents of lower income were less likely to video chat than teens with parents whose income is higher than $75,000 or more annually.  It also said that frequent internet users, those who text, and those who use the social medias are more likely to use the video chat rooms.  I do not find this information surprising since teens have a tendency to want to look at each other while they are talking.  They like to see the other person's reactions as they are talking.  Video Chatting is the next thing to face to face communication.

Recording and Uploading Video

     According to the survey, 27% of older teens (14-17) are more likely to record and upload videos.  At this age the, there really is no difference between girls and boys recording and uploading videos online.  It also states that those teens using social media are more likely  to "shoot and share" video, especially, those teens who use Facebook and Twitter.  Again, here it states that it does not matter that there are more teens with smartphones or other devices.  That does not impact the number of teens recording and uploading.  I do not think that teens are that interested in sharing their videos.  I think they would rather take pictures and share them with their friends and followers.  I also think that many times the teens post videos that can be harmful to others.  This is the medium they use to record fights or other events and when they post them, many people get hurt.  Since this form of sharing video is on the rise, I think parents need to be more vigilant of what their teens are recording.

Streaming Video


     Another form of sharing video online is live streaming and this survey says that 13% of teens stream video live to the internet for others to watch.  Most of these teens have home broadband rather than dial-up users.  It did not matter if the teen was a boy or a girl or which age group they belonged.  If the teens are social media users, it was more likely that they would stream video online, especially, those using Facebook and Twitter.  I feel this form of video sharing is dangerous since it is live and not edited or censored so teens can be streaming anything and can hurt themselves or anyone in the process.  If it is used properly, streaming live video can help people attend events they would otherwise not be able to be present, for example a weeding or a child's baptism.

     As I was reading the survey, the article discussed how they called the teens to ask them questions.  They were instructed to tell a parent of the interview and if they were concerned, they could sit by.  What I found interesting is that the teens, whose parents decided to stay on the line, said that they used Facebook and those whose parents did not stay said that they use other social media.  I think this is the case because kids want a private place online and most parents want to be their "friends" in order to monitor what they are posting.
     Increasingly, more teens are using online video to share with friends and family.  They are using video chatting, they record and upload, and they stream video live online. If the guidelines for digital citizens are used, online video could be a great way to share events or share those moments you would not be able to explain unless a person was there to see them.


   

easel.ly

13 Pages