by Cindy Kerber Spellman
Ever ask around about a new site and find out it’s the new craze in social media you haven’t discovered? Maybe you’ve searched online for a word you’ve heard buzzing about and discovered it’s the latest must-have app. If so, you’re not alone. How teens stay in touch with friends - or even meet new ones - is more instant, more visual, and more diluted with messages from friends and in many cases, advertisers. This “keeping in touch” is also more virtual. From mobile messaging apps to video platforms, what teenagers are using to express themselves and stay socially connected changes as quickly as their wardrobe.
Ever ask around about a new site and find out it’s the new craze in social media you haven’t discovered? Maybe you’ve searched online for a word you’ve heard buzzing about and discovered it’s the latest must-have app. If so, you’re not alone. How teens stay in touch with friends - or even meet new ones - is more instant, more visual, and more diluted with messages from friends and in many cases, advertisers. This “keeping in touch” is also more virtual. From mobile messaging apps to video platforms, what teenagers are using to express themselves and stay socially connected changes as quickly as their wardrobe.
According to Pew Research, 95% of kids ages 12-17 are active online, and 56% of kids in the 13-17 age group go online multiple times a day. So how are teenagers spending their time on digital media, and what’s popular and important today with this generation?
Here’s a quick rundown of 10 sites and apps every parent of teens and tweens should be familiar with to enable knowledgeable and comfortable conversations at home:
