Adolescent Interview about Social Media/Network

I interviewed a sixteen-year old Junior in high school  about his use of social media and networks.  My questions are in bold.  His answers are in italics.

1.  Do you consider yourself a technologically advanced person compared to your peers?

• Yes, very much so.  I use technology and understand how to use it much more than my classmates.

2.  What social networks do you use?

• I don't use that many.  I stick to mainly Facebook.  I do use Snapchat, but I don't receive messages very often.

3.  What is you purpose in using these networks?

• I use these networks to get attention and to make others laugh.

4.  Do you know what cyber buyllying is?

• Yes, we had a unit on it in health class.  We were required to do a project, presentation, and everything.

5.  Have you experienced it on some level?

• I have never experienced it personally, but my friend and I were joking around on Facebook (swearing back and forth at one another), and it got misconstrued by our friends who thought that we were having a serious fight.

6.  How much time do you spend on social media/networks each day?

• I would say only fifteen minutes per week because I log into Facebook just to check who is online to chat to.  If there is no one online that I want to talk to, I log right off.

7.  Do you like using technology in school?

• I love it.  I use the school's laptops every day.

8.  Does it help you or distract you when used in school?

• For me, it helps me to focus, especially if the teacher allows me to listen to music while working on an assignment.  When I'm listening to music, it drowns out every time another student has to ask a question.

9.  What device do you use the most?

• I use my Android cellphone the most.

10.  Can you think of any other ways that we could use social media/networks in school?

• I think it would be awesome if teachers had a Facebook page for each class that they teach.  They could accept their students and then post the homework and students could send messages or post with questions and the teacher could respond.  I think that would be awesome.  
• Using apps would also be fun in class.  Snapchat would be cool.

I found this interview to be pretty informative, and I'm currently looking into ways to use apps in my instruction.  What a cool idea.  Well, it could be.  I was surprised at the amount of time this student spends on social media.  He only spends fifteen minutes per week.  I spend more time than that! I thought this generation was constantly connected to their phones and accounts!