Today's adolescents prefer digital communication to interpersonal communication
What doubt is that the new technologies have changed the lives of all? Adults, children, the elderly, all of them have seen how their day to day has been altered with the arrival of these devices and the expansion of the internet. Of course, the teenagers nor have they been oblivious to this new direction taken by today's society, a new paradigm that is even changing the way we communicate.
Social networks are gaining ground to the classic forms of communication. This is demonstrated by the study Social networks, social life: adolescents reveal their experiences, prepared by Common Sense Media. A work that highlights that young people prefer digital ways to interpersonal formulas when maintaining their relationships with other people.
Emotional Support
In this update of the study conducted in 2012 It was found that the number of young people who had a smartphone had grown obviously. If 6 years ago the number of teenagers with one of these terminals was 41%, today the percentage rises to 89%. It has also become evident how social networks have occupied a very important place in their day to day.
An example is the percentage of young people among 13 and 17 years who thinks that these platforms are very important in their day to day. Few teenagers believe that these websites have a negative influence on their lives. 25% admit that the feeling of loneliness is lower thanks to these online services and only 3% acknowledge feeling isolated.
18% admit that they feel comfortable with themselves for a 4% that recognizes the opposite. Finally, 16% say that social networks helps them to have a better state of mind and 3% indicates the opposite, that these platforms make them feel more depressed.
The best example How the paradigm of communication among young people has changed is the fact that at present only one third of this sector of the population prefers interpersonal interaction to messaging services in new technologies. However, it is paradoxical how more than half of young people recognize that social networks isolate them from the real people around them.
Advice for parents
What can parents do with this change in paradigm? The authors of this study also offer a series of solutions to certain problems related to social networks, such as the fact that 70% of respondents use these platforms more than once a day. The mission of parents is to make their children see how much time they spend on these websites and that they could reinvest in other matters.
From meeting with your friends to perform various activities They range from a movie session in your company or a snack. The authors of this research also recommend that parents make their children see the importance of feeling good about themselves without having to resort to these digital platforms. To be able to use your close circle instead of these websites to vent.
Finally, it is recommended to parents lead by example and in family events such as meals or meetings in relatives' homes, as well as in daily routines where all the members of the household coincide. In these cases, the mobile must be oblivious to these situations and bet on the communication between all those present.
Damián Montero
