Comments on: Teens and Social Media

By: Charles Frith

Charles Frith — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:27:41 +0000

I believe friendly people are friendly. They’ve always picked up the phone, written a note, paid a visit, sent their regards and generally think about others. However what I do know from experience is that learning about others online provides for richer and deeper interaction offline. The ability to choose from a wider selection of topics the subjects that are mutually interesting is I believe unprecedented. Although it would be interesting to find out about the lurkers. The people who for instance visit my blog day in and day out without ever leaving a comment. I find them interesting. Its a one way street for them and I’m curious to know how they behave or how this corresponds in real life.

Great post!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:45:52 +0000

Now you’ve had me looking but had no luck so far. I’d like to see some research on the use of the web to enhance social life for those who did not socialise much before – either due to preference or circumstance. Does the web open up possibilities?
Also as you said, those who just use online actvities and never really socialise outside of that.

Much of what I read tends to be of the ‘ oh look, online activity does not mean they are anti-social’, like the Pew report which brings out the point that heavy online socialisers are heavy offline socialises. What about the other cases/

By: Charles Frith

Charles Frith — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:19:05 +0000

“teens who are the most likely to be active offline are grasping the opportunities provided by social networks, IM, blogs”

I like that observation. It would be very interesting to see those that embrace social media but reject offline contact. I almost had a heated discussion about this with an ad agency planner who insisted that the Chinese are only happy with online contact.