The trend that concerns me – youth people are showing less interest in blogging. In 2006, about 28% of 12-17 year olds blogged. Now, only 14% make the effort to generate lengthier posts about things that interest them. I thought that microblogs (Twitter mostly) would have taken up the slack, but this does not appear to be the base. Only 8% of this group post to the 140 character and less sites.
Social network sites (e.g., Facebook) appear to be the newest trend. Four years ago, 55% used such sites and now the proportion is approaching 75. Did I imagine this or were younger users once blocked.
Of course, Facebook is versatile. You can add a little or a lot depending on your mood. You are also connected to just that group that interests you. Finally, there is the option of accessing your site on the go (hence the title of the report – Social Media and Mobile Internet Use). Approx. 75% of teens own a cell phone and 58% of 12 year-olds have this resource. Amazing.
I find the decline in what the article describes as “long form” posts to be discouraging. Things now appear to be moving toward mobile commenting. This seems more a way of connecting than communicating. Not that the social component is important. Obviously, social connections are extremely important at all ages and particularly to adolescents. However, the benefits of crafting more well thought out comments appear to be in decline.
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