Social Networking Sites National Center For Missing and Exploited Children Dialogue on Social Networking Web Sites June 22, 2006 Washington, DC

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Social Networking SitesNational Center For
Missing and Exploited ChildrenDialogue on Social
Networking Web SitesJune 22, 2006Washington, DC
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Methodology

• Interviewed 1100 parent-child pairs via telephone
• Sample pulled from RDD samples
• 4 focus groups with MS HS students (2004) and 7
  focus groups (2006)
• Tracking surveys of Adult Americans

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Teen Parent Internet Basics

• 87 of teens 12-17 online
• 80 of parents online
• 73 of all adult Americans online
• Of 13 of teens who dont go online, 1 in 10 say
  that fears, bad experiences, or their parents
  keep them offline
• 47 of offline teens once went online
• Overall only 7 of all American teens have never
  used the internet.
• 62 of online Americans have broadband

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Social Networking

• Online Social Networks are web spaces where
  individuals can post information about
  themselves, usually by creating a profile or
  website, and where they can connect with others
  in the same network.
• Two main elements to social networking that
  relate to its appeal to teens (and young adults)
• Connecting and communicating with others
• Content creation a.k.a. self-expression

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Connecting and Communicating

• 89 of online teens have ever sent or received
  email
• 74 of online teens use instant messaging
• 45 of ALL teens have a cellular phone
• 38 of teens have sent a text message from a cell
  phone
• Other activities of similar popularity
• 84 of online teens have visited websites where
  they could learn more about movies, tv shows,
  music groups or sports stars
• 80 of online teens have played online games
• You can do these things on the most popular
  social networking sites, too

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Teens and Content Creation

• 57 of online teens have created content for the
  internet
• 19 Blog
• Website personal (22), group or school
  assignment (32)
• 33 Share original content
• Artwork
• Photos
• Writing
• Videos
• Songs
• 19 Remix content found online into a new
  creation

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Online Behavior Parent Teen Attitudes

• 81 of parents and 79 of teens agree that kids
  are not as careful as they should be about the
  information they give out online
• 62 of parents and 62 of teens agree that kids
  do things online that they wouldnt want their
  parents to know about
• Overall, most parents believe that the internet
  is a good thing for their children

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Amanda LenhartSenior Research SpecialistPew
Internet American Life Project

• http//www.pewinternet.org
• alenhart_at_pewinternet.org