Taking back the web: the next generation

News.com has a special issue on the latest generation gap and how differently the current generation of 7-12 year olds uses the Internet. It’s a bit fluffy and positive, sort of like a Time magazine article, but it does quickly hit key points, with some supporting data and commentary.

A recent study from Pew Internet and American Life found that more than half of all teens online–12 million kids–create original material for the Web, whether it’s through a blog, home page or school Web site, with original artwork, photos or video. A large portion of that active group also will creatively “remix” other material from the Web to create something unique.

Taking back the web ( A news.com special report).

But the articles don’t ask questions about about the risks or downsides of these trends. For example:

• In the data sited above: what percentage of all kids are online?
• What about in other countries? Are “the millenials” a U.S. phenomenon? What about Europe and the Far East? ( South Korea is apparently light years ahead)
• Do other (and better) education systems approach/guide youth Internet usage differently?
• Does the amount of time spent online (and on their asses) correlate with youth obesity trends in the U.S (30% of 6-11 year olds overweight, 15% (1 in 7!) obese)?
• The mashup culture is being led by people much older than millenials - why? Which of the trends mentioned are isolated to 6-12 year olds, and which ones cut across age groups (even if only by early-adopters and tech enthusiasts)?

Posted in Web 2.0 / social software |