What Do Teens Really Think About The Big Social Networks?
By Chris Robley on The DIY Musician Blog
How are teens using the big social platforms when it comes to building relationships, sharing media, and discovering music? Well, maybe a better question to ask yourself first is: do you care?If your fanbase is comprised mostly of motorcycle-loving retirees, then what a 19-yr-old has to say about Vine will not have much effect on your music career. Go where your fans are!
But if your music does appeal to teens, it’s important to understand how your fans are communicating online, and how each network helps them shape and showcase their own identities.
Heck, even if you attract an older audience you might be interested in what teenagers think about various social networks since it’ll inevitably shape how we ALL use the Internet in years to come.
If you’re curious, check out this article from Andrew Watts — an actual, ya know, teen.. who’s “extremely interested in social media’s role in our society as well as how it is currently evolving.”
The real scoop on how teens use Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Tumblr, G+, Vine, YouTube, and more
Watts goes into detail about how each network functions, the habits of its users, and why those features make it a relevant or forgettable online tool. Check out his article for the full picture, but here are some interesting quotes about the more widely known platforms:
Facebook — “It’s dead to us. Facebook is something we all got in middle school because it was cool but now is seen as an awkward family dinner party we can’t really leave.”
Instagram — “Instagram is by far the most used social media outlet for my age group. Please note the verbiage there—it is the most used social media outlet. Meaning, although the most people are on Facebook, we actually post stuff on Instagram.”
Twitter — “To be honest, a lot of us simply do not understand the point of Twitter.”
Snapchat — “Snapchat is where we can really be ourselves while being attached to our social identity. Without the constant social pressure of a follower count or Facebook friends, I am not constantly having these random people shoved in front of me. Instead, Snapchat is a somewhat intimate network of friends who I don’t care if they see me at a party having fun.”
Tumblr — “Tumblr is a place to follow/be followed by a bunch of random strangers, yet not have your identity be attached to it. Tumblr is like a secret society that everyone is in, but no one talks about. Tumblr is where you are your true self and surround yourself (through who you follow) with people who have similar interests.”
YouTube — “For an avid internet user it’s almost impossible to ignore YouTube.”
Vine — “Vine is an application where I feel a lot of people in my group consume content but do not necessarily make content.”
Reddit — “I know a ton of people who visit Reddit on a daily basis (an hourly basis for some) to find all of the hottest news on the web.”
Google+ — “I personally do not know anyone who actively uses Google+.”
If you’re a teen, let us know if you agree with Watts. If you’re not a teen, which social networks are most effective for you when it comes to communicating with your fans and promoting your music? Let us know in the comments below.
It’s worth pointing out the Andrew Watts is a sample size of one, and does not represent teens as a whole. As researcher Danah Boyd points out in this article on Business Insider (she wrote a book about teen behavior on social media), there are plenty of African American teens who know what Twitter is. http://www.businessinsider.com/danah-boyd-an-old-fogeys-analysis-of-a-teenagers-view-on-social-media-2015-1
Good point Shadesofsolveig. Can’t always take one study for truth especially when it comes to social statistics.
If you want to include what girls think about social media in the mix – tweens to college girls from around the country – check out the comments and insight from “Digital Daughters” and the initial finding from this very unscientific survey, “Growing up Female and Social.” http://sayitlikeyoumeanitblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/growing-up-female-and-social-survey-says.html