One of the concerns raised by many when it comes to teens and social media is that it replaces personal interaction. I have heard many people say that teenagers don’t know how to talk anymore because texting and other forms of technology have taken over.
Well that may not necessarily be true, according to research done by “Commonsense Media.” In fact, you might be surprised to learn that some teens would rather do without.
The study involved the first generation of 13 and 17 year olds to go through a vast array of media and technological devices. In other words, this is the first generation of teens to experience technology at its highest peak.
They found that despite the availability of social media, 49% of teens still prefer to talk with their friends in person. Considering how much time teens tend to spend with their devices, I would say this isn’t so bad. Next to talking with friends in person, 33% say they prefer texting.
Now here is where the study gets a little more surprising. According to these same 13 to 17 year olds, 36% say they wish they could go back to a time before Facebook. And 43% wish they could disconnect themselves from the internet occasionally.
This leads me to believe that perhaps parents could be doing a better job at helping their teens to unplug. Because let’s face it, with the temptation right there in your face, it can be difficult to break away. But if parents begin to enforce rules about time limits spent on their devices or even having a “no technology” day, it might actually be just what your teen needs.
It definitely has me thinking about some things I can do in my own home to help my teens get a break from it all. Perhaps it’s not just adults who long for the simpler times…it could be that our teens want it just as much.
Related Articles:
Risky Behavior Associated with Texting and Social Networking
The Good and the Bad of Social Networking
Photo by andronicusmax in Flickr