The Internet

The Internet and other communication technologies provide many opportunities to teens. From the teen’s viewpoint, the Internet is a place to “hang out.” According to the Pew survey, the top five teen Internet activities are: using SNS; accessing current event news and information; purchasing items; sharing artwork, photos, videos, and stories; and finding health, dieting, or physical fitness information. If teens need to find information, they look to the Internet first. Access to a huge variety of resources helps them with school projects, as well as pursuing personal interests – such as pop culture, sports, and music. Studies have shown that looking at large amounts of data via the Internet can enhance teens’ abilities to interpret and manipulate information. Other benefits include developing thinking and writing skills as they post to blogs or other online forums, and connecting with others to discuss shared interests. Just as parents are encouraged to monitor teens by knowing where they are going, who they are with, and what they are doing, parents also need to be knowledgeable about teens’ Internet activities. Unmonitored social networking could provide a forum for messages that are indecent, demeaning, violent or racist. Sometimes comments can be misinterpreted and the conversation can quickly turn into bullying or harassment. A teen may not realize that the 15-year-old boy asking to be an online “friend” is really a 45-year-old man. Teens may find themselves in online relationships for which they are unprepared. An online relationship may move into the real world if teens are persuaded to give out personal information that allows predators to stalk or meet them in person.