5 Things You Thought You Knew

about M E D I A
S & S O C I A L
TE E N

Myth! Teens talk about EVERYTHING online.

Yes! No, No!
has asked but would wouldnt ask

TEENS WANT PRIVACY School 76.6% 17.7% 5.7%

Blablabla
Social Activities 56.1% 27.4% 16.6%
AND THINK ABOUT HOW THEIR ONLINE Entertainment
College
50.6%
41.7%
36.7%
46.2%
12.7%
12.2%
ACTIONS AFFECT HOW PEOPLE SEE THEM.

Shopping 40.5% 35.4% 24.1%
Clubs or Orgs 35.3% 41.7% 23.1%
Work 30.4% 47.5% 22.2%
I have my principal on there, and my
Self Appearance 27.8% 22.8% 49.4%
Current Events 26.5% 42.6% 31.0%
boss is on Facebook, you know, ev- Career 24.4% 48.1% 27.6%
eryone's on Facebook. So I don't put Romantic
Family
19.6%
19.6%
22.2%
39.9%
58.2%
40.5%
anything on there that could poten-
Shhhh...

Health 14.7% 44.9% 40.4%

tially reflect badly on me. - Robin, 18 Religion 12.0% 28.5% 59.5%
Sexual Identity 7.6% 21.0% 71.3%
WOULD TEENS ASK ABOUT IT ONLINE?

Facebook and other SOCIAL MEDIA just distract from school.

Myth!
All the teachers and the
students follow each
SCHOOL WORK
S CH O O L CLUBS
other... I think its nice
having that connection 77%

between teachers and
& students. It doesnt OF TEENS SURVEYED USED SOCIAL
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT make it as bad. It makes MEDIA TO ASK QUESTIONS

??
ARE USES OF SOCIAL MEDIA high school a lot more ABOUT SCHOOL AND AN-
OTHER 18% WOULD.
THAT TEENS OFTEN DESCRIBE. memorable and more in-
teresting. - Alan, 18

Teens
Facebook and other use
SOCIAL of social
MEDIA mediastudents
only distract is frivolous.
from school.
Myth!

WHAT TEENS & ADULTS ASK THEIR
I got advice from my friends about colleges, the col- ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS
lege process, especially past seniors who graduated 40% TEENS
last year. I actually used social media to talk to them. 30%
ADULTS
- Jamie, 18
20%
10%
0 TI ON
T ON ON DA
FA C PIN
I
T A T I
M M EN
O I O
INV REC

Myth! Its DANGEROUS for teens to interact with adults online. !

INTERACTING WITH TEACH- I have an open account and there are principals and teachers fol-
ERS AND OTHER ADULTS IS A lowing me from all over the country, I wouldnt post something
[personal] like that. - Sophia, 16

PLACE TO LEARN
ABOUT THINGS LIKE [My principal] sees my personal life. But it let me know that what I
put on social network sites is not a secret and that anybody can
P R I VA C Y AND see it... He helped me actually change what I put on Instagram and
ONLINE CIVILITY. how I tweet and stuff like that. - Tania, 17

Internet in schools and libraries is just for finding information.

Myth!

asked

77% !
answered
TEENS USE THE INTERNET TO
61% MEET INFORMATION
If you are answering some-
bodys question on there, its like
I would want somebody else to

?
answer my question and help me

NEEDS OF OTHERS with my own personal progress. I
want to give somebody else that.
AND CONTRIBUTE I want to help them with whatev-
% TEENS WHOVE ASKED OR AN-
SWERED QS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
TO PROJECTS & DISCUSSIONS. er they are doing. Isaac, 18

This information comes from studies conducted by the youth online research
group, supported by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
publications available at: http://youthonline.ischool.drexel.edu