User Generated Content

User-generated content is huge among the kids that are growing up in technology. I know kids as young as elementary school, that have social media sites, despite the age restrictions that said social media site has. Above is an image of the revenue that very popular social media sites have that are all for people using user-generated content. I find it interesting that Myspace is still up there because when conversing with people I rarely hear it talked about anymore.  YouTube, however, is right where I expected.

YouTube is something that I always hear talked about among my generation and younger. I hear my younger siblings talk with there friends how they would want to be YouTube famous. Which is amazing to see because the site promotes posting user-generated content. Not only do they like watching them, they enjoy watching the content that so many creators take. I feel like there are not many people that can say they have never look through YouTube for instruction on how to do something. I know I for sure have. There are also many people that use it to document there life and people take an interest in watching their short glimpses into another person's life.

I personally watch some YouTuber's and see them struggling with some of the issues that Larry Lesser, in his Ted talk express might happen. That they are getting copyrighted without some form of review or their content is getting demonetized despite all the views because YouTube did not like the content posted. Is that fair or is this society's way of restricting the content people post. This makes me wonder if YouTubers will be the first to start the major talk that needs to be done around what user-generated content really is. 

I wanted to get accounts from a teenager on how they use social media. I interviewed a family friend name Olivia, she is 14, and a sophomore in high school. I asked these questions to get a better understanding of how she uses social media and understand what is more popular for her age group of youth.

Q: What social media do you use the most?

Olivia: Snapchat

Q: Do you use Twitter? Do you think it's popular with kids your age? 

Olivia: No, I don’t and not really with kids my age

Q: For Snapchat. Do you post your story frequently? How many friends do you talk to on Snapchat a day 

Olivia: Like 3 times a week or 4

And like 6

Q: Do you think snap chat is your main form of communication with your friends? 

Olivia: Well other than in person yeah

Q: How often do you go on Instagram? How often do you post on Instagram? Do you use the messaging option on        Instagram? Does your parent monitor your Instagram? Do you have multiple Instagram?

Olivia: Everyday and like once every 2 or 3 weeks and only to send memes and no and two

Q: Do you post a picture because you like them or for how many likes you can get?

Olivia: Because I like them

Q: Do you use Facebook?

Olivia: Not really

Q: Why do you think Facebook is not one of your main social media?

Olivia: Because it’s for old people

The Start

Hello Readers,
My name is Samantha, I go by Sam. I am a Psychology major with a minor in child development about to graduate Spring 2018. After my undergrad, I hope to go back and get a doctorate and child psychology.
I grew up in a large family where there was always children running around the house playing. When I go home and visit, I don't see my younger family member running around the house as much. They all play together but less outside play and usually have some sort of technology with them. That is what inspired me to start this blog looking at how the younger generations use technology. I want to get accounts from children and find out what their favorite things to do on phones, tablets, and computers are. Research what popular social media networks are among younger generations. Look into how teachers are incorporating it more into their teaching.