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A Teenager’s View on Social Media

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Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#2
While it's an interesting article, I think he's being a bit hyperbolic in translating his local experience out to a generalization.

This isn't simply a 19 year olds experience. It is a white, suburban, middle-class, male attending a conservative university in a culturally regressive state. If nothing else, he's about as radically distant from an urban minority as you could get to the point where I'd imagine it is really impossible for him to have any perspective into other demographics and how they use these tools. I value his opinion, but it's important to take it into context.

Atleast he attempts to hedge his lack of experience in his opening statement.

Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#3
This is filled with gems that old farts like me (I'm 30) don't have any idea about.

If I don’t get any likes on my Instagram photo or Facebook post within 15 minutes you can sure bet I'll delete it.

Super interesting take - it's as though they are posting not to show people stuff but to get people's approval for what they are posting. Simple but critically different in my opinion.

Facebook is often used by us mainly for its group functionality.

Got it, so make a better group service and bring everyone to that.

One big thing I took away is that, assuming this is representative of the demographic, they seem to not mind using multiple applications for communications. So there really is the ability to pretty narrowly specialize with functions - something I think the older generation does backwards; we want to consolidate and make services a "one stop shop."

Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#4

While it's an interesting article, I think he's being a bit hyperbolic in translating his local experience out to a generalization. This isn't simply a 19 year olds experience. It is a white, suburban, middle-class, male attending a conservative university in a culturally regressive state. If nothing else, he's about as radically distant from an urban minority as you could get to the point where I'd imagine it is rea…

It is a white, suburban, middle-class, male attending a conservative university in a culturally regressive state.

Which is the demographic that all of the services in question care about (except whatsapp) - which kind of proves the point.

Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#5
For another single data point I asked my 15 year old son a few months back about what social media platforms he uses and was rather surprised to have him answer "Facebook is for old people" - which probably means over 20.

Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#6

While it's an interesting article, I think he's being a bit hyperbolic in translating his local experience out to a generalization. This isn't simply a 19 year olds experience. It is a white, suburban, middle-class, male attending a conservative university in a culturally regressive state. If nothing else, he's about as radically distant from an urban minority as you could get to the point where I'd imagine it is rea…

It is a white, suburban, middle-class, male attending a conservative university in a culturally regressive state. Which is the demographic that all of the services in question care about (except whatsapp) - which kind of proves the point.

I'm going to argue that. Many of these services are targeting a more diverse crowd. If they were only targeting this kids demographic, they would be limiting their growth potential out the door. Especially given that the growing base of users of these tools are international users.

Also, I'm going to argue just against my experience with urban teens living in more diverse communities which doesn't really align with this kids experience.

Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#7
> I only know a handful of people (myself included) that believe Snapchat does delete your photos. Everyone else I know believes that Snapchat has some secret database somewhere with all of your photos on it.

It takes a special kind of stupid to even consider the idea that the photos are _really_ deleted.

Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#8

This is filled with gems that old farts like me (I'm 30) don't have any idea about. If I don’t get any likes on my Instagram photo or Facebook post within 15 minutes you can sure bet I'll delete it. Super interesting take - it's as though they are posting not to show people stuff but to get people's approval for what they are posting. Simple but critically different in my opinion. Facebook is often used by us mainly…

I think Whatsapp has emerged as the better group service that everyone is using. It's a little too easily brushed aside in this article.

Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#9
I like that he's less concerned with a company storing his Social Security Number (or credit card, name, address... things governments/companies ALREADY HAVE) than the photos and thoughts he's choosing to share only with his closest friends.

Dunno how to quote: I only know a handful of people (myself included) that believe Snapchat does delete your photos. Everyone else I know believes that Snapchat has some secret database somewhere with all of your photos on it. While I will save that debate for another day, it is safe to say that when photos are “leaked” or when there’s controversy about security on the app, we honestly do not really care. We aren't sending pictures of our Social Security Cards here, we're sending selfies and photos with us having 5 chins

Re: A Teenager’s View on Social Media

#10
post #8

This is filled with gems that old farts like me (I'm 30) don't have any idea about. If I don’t get any likes on my Instagram photo or Facebook post within 15 minutes you can sure bet I'll delete it. Super interesting take - it's as though they are posting not to show people stuff but to get people's approval for what they are posting. Simple but critically different in my opinion. Facebook is often used by us mainly…

I think Whatsapp has emerged as the better group service that everyone is using. It's a little too easily brushed aside in this article.

I disagree, none of my friends use WhatsApp and I've never heard them mention it. It's all about group texts or FB chat groups. (I am 23)
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