Teens are all over the Internet. According to a 2012 survey of Pew Research Internet Project, over 95% of teenagers from 12 to 17 years old were using social media. An infographic also reveals that more than 20% are in Instagram, 22% in Twitter, and 55% in Facebook. Most are in Tumblr.
Mobile technologies such as smart phones and tablets further enhanced their exposure to these websites as they have now become accessible.
Yet this also brings a growing concern: according to one study, teens are now oversharing their lives in public in the hope of gaining massive attention and even fame.
Researchers from Centennial College led by Debbie Gordon looked into the rapidly growing selfie culture. Selfie is a term used to describe a personal photo, which is then shared online via these social media websites.
According to the group, who scour these different websites to look for users between the ages of 13 and 18, more teens are becoming obsessed with this type of culture, simply because they wanted attention and fame. This only made them vulnerable to exploitation and bullying, however, as teens push their own boundaries and abandon online privacy, posting more provocative shots of themselves, such as in very sexy dresses to drive up likes, comments, and followers.
Furthermore, many of these teens are using the same tactic to build their own brand online. They are now receiving sponsorships from brands and businesses that wish to capitalize on their popularity. Some have also built websites where they earn money by running ads.
The study also suggests that these teens may be heavily influenced by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, who became a bigger reality star when she started posting selfies in her profile, some of which are incredibly sexy.
This doesn't mean, though, that all teens are already into such culture as several still want to avoid it fearing future consequences.
In light with the results of their study, Gordon encourages parents to be more involved in their teen's use of social media.
