l10 : impact of digital communication on identity - age

Question 1

what did boyle find about the young generation and digital communication?

Answer 1

• with each successive generation, there is a greater reliance on usage of digital communication. led to “digital generational divide”
• “micro generation gaps” where young children influenced by latest digital tools available in formative stages of development
• the igeneration spend great deal of time texting rather than talking on phone
• younger gen use dc more since more free time and less responsibilities than older gen

Question 2

what does prensky mean by “digital natives”?

Answer 2

refers to young people who use the internet as a natural environment that they are fully integrated in. digital culture is second nature and feel strong sense of community when online

Question 3

what did gardner and davis find about youth and digital social media?

Answer 3

• young people most frequent users of sm
• young people very careful how they present themselves online in terms of public consumption. 3 presentations of self. (glammed up, edgy, identity performance)

Question 4

what are the three presentations of the self that gardner and davis found?

Answer 4

1) glammed up - construct polished and socially desirable identity that exaggerates socially attractive elements of their personality. downplays uncool traits.
2) edgy - adopt range of fictitious identities as want to respond to diff audiences on diff sites
3) identity performance - where time is taken up by checking phones to manage online impressions of them

Question 5

give four evaluation points for gardner and davis research on youth and digital social media.

Answer 5

1) doesn’t consider that young people spend more time online (virtual rs) than fostering real life relationships. negative effect on social skills. (-)
2) twenge - doesnt consider negative impact of dc. evidence for rising levels of negative moods amongst young people due to dc (-)
3) turkle - young people mentally tethered to digital devices, too addicted and dependent to online communities (-)
4) can help shy young people and those that find it hard to interact face to face to develop rs (+)

Question 6

give five stats from the OFCOM (2014) report about adults and being online.

Answer 6

• 83% of adults go online
• 98% of 16-34yr olds go online
• 62% of UK adults use a smartphone
• 66% of online adults say they have a current social networking site
• 39% of households over the state pension age have internet access

Question 7

what were the research findings on the elderly and digital communication?

Answer 7

• older people using dc more & benefits their self-esteem and identity
• study carried out in uk & italy
• trained older vulnerable people to use sm, increased cognitive capacity & self-competence, improved mental & physical health
• majority of sample had the hardware and the knowledge so felt less isolated from family, friends etc.

Question 8

give three general evaluation points about age and digital communication.

Answer 8

1) in contrast to research evidence, older gen now using dc more. so idea of “digital generational divide” may not be true
2) supporting evidence that all age groups have greater access to dc. society more affluent and phones/laptops more reasonable so more accessible and affordable than the past.
3) supporting evidence from OFCOM (2015) that dc have practical appeal to all age groups. elderly more inclined to use laptops, phones, tv to cope with daily life better. younger gen inclined to use sm and gaming to maintain social networks. also being used to help education

Question 9

what did heintz-knowles state about representations of childhood in the media?

Answer 9

• children motivated by peer relationships, sports, romance
• rarely shown coping with familial or racial issues
• representations are positive and are recently realistic

Question 10

what did newman find about representation of the elderly in the media?

Answer 10

upper class and middle class elderly people are often portrayed in tv as occupying high status roles eg. world leaders, judges, policitians etc.

Question 11

what did waynes content analysis find about the representation of young people in the media?

Answer 11

conducted content analysis of 2130 news items on tv channels in 2006. found young people represented as violent threat. very rare for news to feature young persons opinion

Question 12

what are the five characteristics that the elderly are portrayed as having in the media?

Answer 12

1. grumpy
2. mentally challenged
3. dependent
4. burden
5. enjoying second childhood