Interview with a 12yr old regarding their thoughts on growing up digital: their technology and social media

As I read David Crystal’s Language and the Internet and read some of the read more about Sherry Turkle’s work, I became very interested in something we discussed as a class in the beginning of the semester.

The debate over how we will preserve the written word or the spoken language is questioned continuously as technology and digital era makes their advancements. While going thru a couple pages of Crystal’s abbreviations for ‘key phrases’, I was thinking how there are truly multiple languages (or forms of our language) we rely on as a society. Who ever thought that BRB would mean be right back or IDK was I don’t know?   As a matter of fact there were some on the list that I would have never even imagined such as Y! and X! for typical man and typical woman. I can’t even imagine how those came about. 

 

Going back to Turkle’s work, (I know I am jumping back and forth but..), her research is very interesting. I truly appreciate her work. As a matter of fact it seems as if she really examines the depths of what technology is doing to society as a whole, including what it will do socially to the future of our society.

Her book on, Alone Together, is a topic that I feel needs to be examined more by other researchers. For example, I just drove 3hr 45mins to Massachusetts with 3 adolescent boys in the car. Can I just tell you that I thought the roof was going to come thru as they sat on their ‘DS’s and fought and laughed about a game they were all playing simultaneously but with their own hand held devices. It got insane to the point we had to threaten to take away their devices.

 

After about 2 hours into the ride, they were all engrossed in their own devices but not saying a word to each other. At the same point the 12 year olds text alert went off on his cell phone and he went to another world communicating with an outsider as the 11 and 9 year old engaged in their own toys. One step further was the ipod., that came out of the 11 year olds pocket and became a ‘face-time’ device to communicate with his sister who was in another vehicle 2 hours behind us into the trip. Essentially, Turkle’s work really captures my attention and it makes me realize that our society is in for a rude awakening as people have trouble interacting socially (face to face).

However, the conversations that did take place in the car (without technology in hand) consisted of ‘pre order’ games, ‘deluxe’ editions, ‘map packs’, ‘special features’, Microsoft features for Christmas, etc…. the conversation was NOTHING I understood except I was going to have to lay out money and get to GameStop EARLY ! countless hours I have listened to “please, can I…. or please, I need it…. Or please, it has to be done today….hurry hurry hurry….” My life as a parent in today’s digital era has turned into a new gizmo, an upgade, or a pre order for games that allow them to interact ‘alone, at home with friends who are in a separate home, alone….’  Odd, yet interesting!

 

So, after nearly 4 hours with 3 BOYS, and observing the habits of these children I have come up with quite a list of questions for my interview.

 

And trust me, if I had better phone and internet service, I would upload a picture of the 3 boys this morning on a couch all with their devices waiting for breakfast. (scary stuff!)

1.)   How does it feel knowing you can communicate through a gaming device and not know the person at the other end?

12yr old: It is normal. It doesn’t bother me either way.

2.)  Do you feel that you are safe because you are not face to face?

12yr old: Of course I am safe, no one knows where I am.

3.)  Does face to face with a stranger feel differently than through the gaming device?

12yr old: Yes, when I meet people for the first time, I am not sure what they think of me and I tend to be quieter until I get to know them. When I am on my game, it is much easier.

4.)  Do you feel that your location and identity are protected because you cannot see the other person?

12yr old: yes, I do. I feel safe.

5.)  Do you feel that when you are in school that you have to use ‘proper’ English and is it hard because you are generally using abbreviated words and phrases?

12yr old: Yes, in school we must use normal language and anything else is not acceptable.

a.     Explain to me what form of the language is easier for you to use ? and

12yr old: For me, it doesn’t matter I feel like I am programmed when I am in school to be ‘school’ like and when I am texting or gaming, I just go into that language. (and he laughed)

b.    Does your brain just switch over when you are in school versus when you are holding an electronic communicator?

12yr old: Yes, I answered that previously.

 

6.)  When you are at the dinner table (breakfast or lunch) ( at home) do you think it is ok to have your cell phone or electronics at the table?

12yr old: sometimes. If my Dad is home he threatens to throw it. But my Dad isn’t home much and I live with my grandparents, who feel that so long as I am quiet I am behaving.

7.)  If you were in a restaurant do you think it is acceptable to have your phone or game at the table?

12yr old: No, because I would be there with my Dad and he would get really angry.

8.)  When you have something really important and sometimes uncomfortable to discuss with your parents is it easier to text / email or talk phase to phase.  …. And how about the same for a friend?

12yr old: No, I would never text my Dad something like that. Sometimes I would hint to something but I would tell him face to face.

9.)  Tell me when you think it is appropriate to be ‘alone’ with your devices?

12yr old: after school and at night when I am in bed.

10.)              What do you think the appropriate age is for Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, etc…?

12yr old: I think 12 years old is okay.

11.)              How do you feel about adults and parents being on social media? Do you feel that it is appropriate and if so how do you feel about them posting personal information about themselves and their family?

12yr old: I don’t think anything about adults having social media. I never gave any thought to what adults do on facebook but I do think that they should behave because they are part of our family and I think it is not good for adults to post bad things.

12.)              What do you think is the appropriate age for a child to get their first cell phone? Do you think that the cell phone should be for calls and texts or should it be capable to be a mobile on line device?

12yr old: I got my first cell phone at 11. My Dad had said when I was 12 I would get one, but I kept bugging him for one to the point where he just went and got one. I think I should have the ability to use the internet on my cell phone but my dad will not budge. I get talk and texting.

13.)              How do you feel when you are sitting in a living room and there are 4 of you all on your separate devices communicating with others while there are people right next to you ?

12yr old: I would not think anything of it.

14.)              When you are bored or lonely do you feel that your cell or ipod helps you connect to others and not feel alone anymore? If the answer is yes, what makes you feel socially interactive…the fact that you have engaged with someone else?  (perhaps this was what the phone did for us in the 80s)

12yr old: when I am bored I go play on my games… all day long when my Dad is not around.

15.)              Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

12yr old: having a YouTube fan club and teaching about gaming. I will have a job too. I will be an engineer and have a dog.

16.)              Do you have plans to go to college ? If so, as of today what do you think your major would be?

12yr old: I am definitely going to college and I want to be an engineer.

17.)              Would you be comfortable and content working from home for a big company with a computer, lap top, or any other electronic gizmo?

12yr old: To me it doesn’t matter either way to me.

18.)              List 5 things you can do with your cell phone?

12yr old: I text, I call, I text, I call and I text. But mostly I only text…

19.)              List 5 things you do while gaming?

12yr old: I talk to others, I pay the game, I meet new people, I try to beat the game and I explore other options built into the game.

20.)              List 5 things you discussed with your family and or friends (face to face) in the last 24 hours?

12yr old: we are on vacation now, so I have been really busy. I went fishing, clamming, crabbing, swimming in the ocean, ate, played board games and slept!!!!!

 

As these questions get answered, I am sure there will be other questions that build upon them… Personally, I am concerned about this generation and where they will be socially in the next 10 years…. I find this discussion to be interesting and I would think that a longitudinal study, starting with 9 year olds for 15 years is in order…..  !

 

*****   After I completed my interview, I had this as closing thoughts: ‘if young kids can switch gears so fast and change English to texting language so easily, why are we not teaching students other languages at earlier ages or any other engineering qualities? If adolescents’ have the capability to switch gears and learn many different languages and retain an abundance of information, then I would suggest that we capitalize on that and get students to learn things that will benefit them and society as a whole for the future!