New Forms of Communication

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Children and adolescents seem to communicate with their peers more electronically than face to face. They chat with their friends through instant messaging, texting, social network sites and email. Often they are multi-tasking; they may be texting several of their friends while chatting via instant message and at the same time listening to the latest music download.

There world is insular, in constant motion and seemingly never ending. There is information sharing in these messages which appear to be slightly exaggerated sound bites. Discussions about homework, sports and the latest trends are shared. Drama and conflict are also included in these conversations, but there is no real means to resolve them.

Their online conversations tend to be short, but the back and forth dialogue with a multitude of friends can last for hours and simultaneously they are playing the latest video game. They also consider playing online games with their friends as meaningful contact and conversation. This seems more like parallel play as opposed to really being engaged with one another.

It may seem that children and adolescents communicate more electronically than face-to-face with their peers.

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We are a visual society. Think about it, televisions are running 24/7, Facebook is visual with memes, videos, images, etc., Instagram is an image-only platform, and advertisers use imagery to sell products and ideas. Think about from a personal perspective – the images we post on social media are meant to convey meaning – to communicate a message.

As social media is now a part of everyday life, it is important for children and young people to learn how to communicate online to prepare them for future opportunities in the workplace and support them in interacting with friends and family. To understand new forms of communication, can you explore the main ways young people communicate in this new era?

Exercise

We communicate continually throughout each and every day. We do it without thinking – we operate on communication autopilot. Children and adolescents seem to communicate with their peers more electronically than face to face. They chat with their friends through instant messaging, texting, social network sites such as Facebook and Snapchat

You can work on this exercise on your own. List the advantages and disadvantages of new forms of communication. In the resources section look at the weblinks and watch the video, there are clear arguments for and against new forms of communications.

What you learn in this course

Get ready: Tips for MediaParent consultants

When working with parents and guardians it is important to highlight, although social media can present some risks, what the benefits are to children and what guidance they need to make the best out of their social media use. Below is a list of ways social media can be a source for good for children and young people that can help parents when dealing with new forms of communication:

Broaden connection and understanding of the world; children can learn and appreciate different perspectives and worldviews to better understand the world around them and build up their knowledge on a range of topics. With so many ideas shared across several platforms, they can discover areas of interest and use the platforms in an educational capacity.

Removing boundaries to develop connections; social media removes the boundaries of meeting and maintaining people and forming bonds beyond borders. For children who may have a disability or may not feel they can connect with others within their community, it can be a great way to connect with other people who share their ideas and interests.

Strengthen relationships; having access to family members who may live miles apart of friends who have moved from a local area can help maintain relationships and allow them to stay in touch and share their lives with ease.

A place to seek support; It can open opportunities to offer support to friends and family that may be experiencing a particular issue. On the flip side for some young people, it can be a place where they can seek support if they are going through something that they cannot talk to those close to them about.

Campaigning for social good; social media can help young people raise awareness of a particular cause that they are interested in to have a real-world impact on effecting change where they want to see it.

Develop a positive digital footprint; children are learning to build a positive portfolio which can help them in the future.