GeekSugar

Is Surfing the Internet Beneficial For Teens?

GeekSugar — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:00:40 -0800

There are so many confounding studies related to teens and technology, that it's getting more difficult to decipher if tech is a help or hindrance on an adolescent's development and overall well-being. First we heard that teens aren't sleeping enough because of their gadgets, but then we find out that cell phones and texting are good because it improves the parent-teen relationship.

And now, a new study that was conducted over the course of three years in the US with 800 teenagers, found that online time for teens is important for development. The report's author, Dr. Mimi Ito, said that behavior known as "geeking out" helps teens explore creative passions like gaming, video editing and writing, and it also helps them learn how to communicate online and create a public identity.

What do you think about this? Although I feel that all of the above reasons are true, I can't imagine being a teen in this huge "tech era," spending more of my time online than hanging out with friends.

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Teens Not Sleeping Enough Because of Their Gadgets

GeekSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:45:06 -0700

This is definitely one of those studies that doesn't surprise me. An Australian study has shown that over 50 percent of third- and fourth-year high-school students aren't getting enough sleep because they are too busy playing games, watching TV, listening to their iPod, or chatting on the phone.

It was the males who were found glued to their video games, TVs, or media players, while the females couldn't get enough gab time in on their telephones. What's happening is the teens can't seem to pull themselves away from gadgets before bedtime, which is causing them to lose large amounts of sleep.

Dr. Kurt Lushington, a professor within the School of Psychology at the University of South Australia, who lead the study had this to say about it: "Sleep is very important for learning and memory, particularly in year 12 when pressure is on to perform. A lot of kids are reporting that they're tired when they wake up and there are quite a few reporting they're sleepy during the day."

It'd be interesting if they conducted a similar study for adults. I may not be chatting on my cell before bed, but I am trying to catch up on my TiVo taped shows!

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Texting Improves the Parent-Teen Relationship

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:01:15 -0700

We all know that typing text messages while driving can be a killer combo, especially for teens, but did you know that text messaging has actually improved relationships between parents and their teens? In a recent survey by Samsung Mobile, nearly seven in 10 American parents communicate with their kids by text message and more than half of teens think their relationship with their parents has improved because of text messaging. Check out the video below to learn more about the survey and the results.

How Does Modern Technology Impact Teens?

GeekSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:03:48 -0800

Teens all over the world are growing up in a world in which the Internet, cell phones, text messaging and other technology dominates their communication and are an integral part of everyday life. I was a teenager when AIM got big and remember how quickly everyone in my age group got addicted to chatting online. Today there is all this hype about very public breakups using modern technology, but apparently, not every teen is lost in a cyber world.

According to a researcher at Harris Interactive, teens utilize different modes of communication in different social contexts. When the tone of a communication is serious, such as arguing and breaking up with someone, teens realize that communication tools may not be the best avenue of discussion.

Two in three teens (67%) would not break up with someone and two in five (42%) would not argue with a friend over phones, email, instant messaging, text messaging, or social networking sites.
When choosing a communication tool, teens will most likely choose to use cell phones and landline phones to talk to a friend about something serious or important (cell phone 34%, landline phone 23%); apologize to a friend (cell phone 22%, landline phone 20%); or break up with someone (cell phone 14%, landline phone 9%).

For more survey results, just read more

About one in three teens say they are not comfortable gossiping, sharing secrets or having private conversations using phones, email, instant or text messaging.
Teens feel more comfortable discussing touchy subjects when using instant messaging (29%), than cell phones (14%), text messaging (11%) and social networking websites (10%).
Overall, teens are most comfortable using cell phones, instant messaging and landline phones to have a private conversation (cell phone 29%, instant messaging 16%, landline phone 15%), sharing a secret (cell phone 25%, instant messaging 11%, landline phone, 14%) and gossiping (cell phone 17%, instant messaging 17%, landline phone 14%). Teens are also more likely to hear rumors about people through instant messaging (31%) and social networking website (27%).

Ellen DeGeneres's Awards Show Must Have: A Video Camera

GeekSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:50:42 -0700

Last night at the Teen Choice Awards in LA, funnywoman Ellen DeGeneres made sure to capture every eventful moment with her pocket-size Flip Mino Camcorder. This isn't the first time we've seen her accept an award while filming the entire experience; back in 2006 at the 32nd Annual People's Choice Awards, she brought along her Sony Handycam. And just in case you were wondering, she won "Choice Twit" for being the favorite Twitterer! You can check out more pics of her with her black Flip below.

View 5 Photos ›

Facebook Status Message Proves Teen's Innocence

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:43:52 -0800

While some may consider frivolous Facebook status updates annoying, there's definitely one New York City teen who probably doesn't agree. He was recently arrested and charged with robbery, but charges were dropped once he was able to prove his alibi - via a Facebook status message. The teen claimed he was miles from the scene of the crime as it happened, but no one could corroborate the story. . .until his lawyer mentioned the Facebook status update, posted at the time of the robbery.

The district attorney subpoenaed Facebook to verify the computer's location at the time of the status update. When his IP address was revealed proving he was indeed miles away, the charges were dropped. With the increasing popularity of sharing (and oversharing) on social networking sites, I imagine we'll be hearing more and more stories like this. According to the article:

"'This is the first case that I’m aware of in which a Facebook update has been used as alibi evidence,' said John G. Browning, a lawyer in Dallas who studies social networking and the law. 'We are going to see more of that because of how prevalent social networking has become.'"

To keep reading my thoughts about this story, just read more.

So, add "proof of innocence" to the list of things Facebook can do for you. Though I can't help but be reminded of this story from a few months ago, when a Facebook poke landed a woman in jail. And how many times have we heard of a cheating spouse or partner getting busted via Facebook? It's about time someone's Facebook use proves their innocence!

geeksugar's Gift Guide: Great Gadgets for Teen Girls

GeekSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:00:51 -0800

If my obsessions with Gossip Girl and The Hills have taught me anything it's that teen girls love shiny, fancy gadgets. I don't blame them. Gossip Girl's hot cameras and Verizon phones and Lauren Conrad's obsession with her BlackBerry are all lust worthy, but what does the average teen girl want this holiday season?

I suspect the iPhone, $399, iPod nano, $150, and less expensive items like the Juicy Couture Velour Laptop Sleeve, $95, and iKaraoke for iPod, $50, will all be big with gadget loving trendsetters this year.

If you're seeking smaller stocking stuffer-sized gifts consider cute earbuds they can use anywhere. Not all girls love pink, so consider the iPod nano's new retro colors or more classic, geek chic cell phone tones if you're going to purchase a big ticket device for a teen girl.

JVC Portable Gummy Earbud Headphones ($7)	Super Mario Galaxy ($50)
Motorola RAZR2 V9 ($100)	Juicy Couture Velour Laptop Sleeve ($95)
iKaraoke for iPod ($50)	iPod nano ($150)
JBL On Stage II Speaker for iPod ($140)	Wii ($400)	iPhone ($399)

Do You Send More Texts Now Than You Used to?

GeekSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:42:10 -0800

According to data recently released by a communications study group, the number of text messages sent and received in the US has grown 80 percent in the last year. A spokesman for the group that conducted the study cites unlimited text plans (instead of traditional pay-per-message plans) and early-adopting teens who have continued their texting practices as they've gotten older.

And, of course, there's the now infamous story of a teenage girl from Ohio who sends over 15,000 texts a month!

Do you find yourself sending more text messages than you used to?

Should There Be an Age Minimum For Social Networks?

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:44:06 -0800

Social networking sites have long been popular with teens, and now researchers are saying they're becoming increasingly popular with younger kids, too. I don't think anyone's surprised by the findings; though both Facebook and MySpace require users to be at least 13 years old when signing up for accounts.

A researcher quoted in the CNN article says:

"Of course they are [using social networking sites]. They're using them because that's where their social world is. Because there's no effective way to age-verify . . . children very quickly realize, 'I just say I'm 14 years old, and they'll let me use this.' "

Researchers are split on the long-term effects of allowing younger children onto the sites. Some say that early exposure to the sites can lead to Internet addiction in adults; others say that most younger children use the sites in moderation, and in positive ways. The article also quotes parents who have allowed their kids to lie about their age to create profiles, though they also require their kids to surrender their passwords, and monitor the kids' activities and friends. What do you think about age restrictions on these sites?

Do You Think Teens Sext More Than Adults?

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:50:58 -0700

On this week's "To Sext or Not to Sext" episode of 90210 Naomi considers acting out her residual prom night frustration on Annie by blasting out an explicit MMS message of Annie as payback. (To be fair, Naomi thinks Annie slept with her boo). It's a dramatic and entertaining plotline, but further reinforced the overwhelming stats and tales of teens sexting at schools.

More than 61 percent of GeekSugar readers have admitted to sexting in the past, which leads me to believe grown-ups are doing it too. Do you think teens sext more, or do you think we just hear about it from the media because of their age?

Photo courtesy of The CW