This document summarizes a presentation about teens' use of social networking and technology. It discusses popular social media sites, trends in teen usage, and reasons teens engage with these tools. Survey results from local teens are also presented. The presentation concludes by offering libraries ideas on supporting teens' social development and healthy online habits through programming, outreach, and advisory groups that incorporate an understanding of popular technologies.

1. Teens, Social Networking,
and Technology
Presented by Elise C. Cole
Teen Services Librarian
ecole@oakville.ca
Where people and ideas meet. • www.opl.on.ca

2. Teens & Technology
 Agenda:
– Formal review of social networking and teen–
favourite technologies
– Informal survey of the Oakville teen
experience
– Putting it all together
– How and where to learn more

3. Teens & Technology
 What are social networking sites?
“A social network service focuses on building
online communities of people who share
interests and/or activities, or who are
interested in exploring the interests and
activities of others. Most social network
services are web based and provide a variety
of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail
and instant messaging services.”
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking

4. Teens & Technology
 What are some examples of social
networking sites?

5. Teens & Technology
 Social networking trends amongst teens
– In teens ages 12 to 17, higher use of sites like
Facebook and MySpace are by girls, and
amongst older teens
“The vast majority of teens who use social
networking sites say they use the sites to maintain
their current friendships, while half report using the
sites to make new friends.”
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2007/PI
P_SNS_Data_Memo_Jan_2007.pdf.pdf

6. Teens & Technology
 Why do teens use social networking tools?
“…from IM to blogging, „adolescents use these
communication tools primarily to reinforce
existing relationships.‟”
“Teens and Social Networking” Public
Libraries, May/June 2009: 33

7. Teens & Technology
 Other technologies:
– Cell phones
 Texting
 Cell phone applications (apps)
– iPod/mp3 players (music & video)
– Email
– TV (TV,PVR, Online video/shows)
– Gaming
 Online gaming
 Gaming systems (i.e., Wii)
– Etc.

8. Teens & Technology
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/reports/nielsen_howteensusemedia_june09.pdf

9. Teens & Technology
 Informal Survey Results: (25 respondents)

10. Teens & Technology
 How do you apply this knowledge to your
library?
– Form a Teen Advisory Group
 Learn what‟s important to teens in your area:
gaming, music, and get them involved
 Offer credit for community service hours
 Offer: FOOD!

11. Teens & Technology
 What‟s important to your Library:
– Broader Teen programming
 Bigger reach in advertising upcoming programs
 Outreach programs
– Supporting teens‟ social development
 Sites are part of healthy socialization process
 Promote healthy self-expression
– Teaching teens online safety in a positive way

12. Teens & Technology

13. Teens & Technology

14. Teens & Technology
 Need ideas?
– YALSA, Blog and Mailing lists
 http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/yalsa.cfm
 http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/
 http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/electronicr
esourcesb/websitesmailing.cfm esp YA-YAAC
– Google News/Blog alert for Teen programs
 http://news.google.com/ and click on News Alerts

15. Teens & Technology
 More ideas….
– PUBYAC
 http://www.pubyac.org/
– SLJTeen (School Library Journal)
 Subscribe @
https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/subscribe.asp?screen=
nl1
– Conferences, of course!
 http://presentations.ala.org
 http://www.accessola.com/superconference2009/
 http://www.cla.ca/conference/2009/index.htm

16. Teens & Technology
 More ideas (cont‟d)….
– PUBYAC
 http://www.pubyac.org/
– SLJTeen (School Library Journal)
 Subscribe @
https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/subscribe.asp?screen=
nl1
– Articles from the KO databases (Masterfile Premier,
etc.)
– Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
 http://www.voya.com/

17. Teens & Technology
 More ideas (cont‟d)….
 Patrick Jones
– www.connectingya.com
 Free Gaming in Libraries – The Course online with
Scott Nicholson
– http://www.gamesinlibraries.org/course/
 ALA Gaming Toolkit
– http://librarygamingtoolkit.org/index.html
 Overdrive (Digital Bookmobile)
– www.digitalbookmobile.com

18. Thank you for
listening!
Slides will be available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/craighen/teenstechnology
Or, contact me at ecole@oakville.ca