TY - JOUR
T1 - Teens, health and technology
T2 - A national survey
AU - Wartella, Ellen
AU - Rideout, Vicky
AU - Montague, Heather
AU - Beaudoin-Ryan, Leanne
AU - Lauricella, Alexis
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 by the authors; licensee Cogitatio (Lisbon, Portugal).
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - In the age of digital technology, as teens seem to be constantly connected online, via social media, and through mobile applications, it is no surprise that they increasingly turn to digital media to answer their health questions. This study is the first of its kind to survey a large, nationally-representative sample of teens to investigate how they use the newest digital technologies, including mobile apps, social networking sites, electronic gaming and wearable devices, to explore health topics. The survey covered the types of health topics teens most frequently search for, which technologies they are most likely to use and how they use them, and whether they report having changed their behaviors due to digital health information. In addition, this survey explores how the digital divide continues to impact adolescents. Results of this study indicate that teens are concerned about many health issues, ranging from fitness, sexual activity, drugs, hygiene as well as mental health and stress. As teens virtually always have a digital device at their fingertips, it is clear that public health interventions and informational campaigns must be tailored to reflect the ways that teens currently navigate digital health information and the health challenges that concern them most.
AB - In the age of digital technology, as teens seem to be constantly connected online, via social media, and through mobile applications, it is no surprise that they increasingly turn to digital media to answer their health questions. This study is the first of its kind to survey a large, nationally-representative sample of teens to investigate how they use the newest digital technologies, including mobile apps, social networking sites, electronic gaming and wearable devices, to explore health topics. The survey covered the types of health topics teens most frequently search for, which technologies they are most likely to use and how they use them, and whether they report having changed their behaviors due to digital health information. In addition, this survey explores how the digital divide continues to impact adolescents. Results of this study indicate that teens are concerned about many health issues, ranging from fitness, sexual activity, drugs, hygiene as well as mental health and stress. As teens virtually always have a digital device at their fingertips, it is clear that public health interventions and informational campaigns must be tailored to reflect the ways that teens currently navigate digital health information and the health challenges that concern them most.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Digital technology
KW - Health
KW - Information-seeking
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016135372&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85016135372&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.17645/mac.v4i3.515
DO - 10.17645/mac.v4i3.515
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85016135372
SN - 2183-2439
VL - 4
SP - 13
EP - 23
JO - Media and Communication
JF - Media and Communication
IS - 3
ER -