Danah Boyd

This book provides an interesting counterpoint to [b:Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other|8694125|Alone Together Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other|Sherry Turkle|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328841533s/8694125.jpg|13566692], which emphasises the problematic aspects of technology. 'It’s Complicated', by contrast, seeks to reassure the reader that today’s American teenagers are not being ruined by the internet and smartphones. I found myself agreeing with both books to some extent, as they are really pursuing different points. Turkle focuses more on the elderly than youth and doesn’t engage with the ‘digital natives’ concept. Boyd (sorry, I’m a stickler for capitalisation) is seeking to counter media scare stories about teenage life, which she rightly insists say more about the media’s use of fear than about teenagers themselves. Both books use ethnographic methods, which explore nuances of experience appealingly. Boyd seems more will to back this up with data on overall trends, which I appreciated.

The two books, but this one especially, really emphasise to me how American society has major problems and use of technology is a symptom rather than a cause. A major theme of ‘It’s Complicated’ is the fact that teenagers use social media to communicate with their friends because it is much easier than meeting with them face-to-face. A mixture of fearful & stiflingly protective parents, bad transport, a hostile built environment, and lack of free time appear responsible for this. Reading this chapter, I felt very glad not to be an American teenager, as it sounds incredibly depressing. Likewise, in Turkle’s book there was much about robots being used as companions for the elderly - this is symptomatic of society dismissing the elderly, rather than being a cause of it. Technology is not some neutral force, even as it shapes society it was created and marketed in a particular context.

Given the focus on teenagers, do not expect this book to reflect on the adoption of social media by other demographics. Moreover, it doesn’t consider the impact of smartphones and their ethic of constant connectivity. On the other hand, it does make some very striking points on how social media spaces reproduce existing inequalities and prejudices, especially racism. Likewise notable was the concept of ‘civil inattention’ and privacy-in-public within the context of facebook; the idea that relatives should skim past updates intended to be read by friends. Given that social mores and norms of behaviour are uncertain and evolving in social media, the extent of civil inattention is hard to gauge. A post that seems to invite sympathy and comfort leads you wonder if it is inviting such from you, or from closer friends, perhaps someone specific? On facebook, there is the perennial question of whether to weigh into a discussion between people you barely know, on a topic you feel strongly about. As arguing on the internet seems astoundingly futile, I'd always answer no. (As an aside, I don't use facebook, which I dislike for its clutter and general stressfulness. The same situation can occur on twitter, though.)

‘It’s Complicated’ is not a long book. It covers the topics most commonly raised in scaremongering about teenagers and technology, such as addiction to social media, bullying, and privacy. I was left with other questions, though. How is technology changing teenagers attitudes and practises in relation to consumerism, to socialising (surely more than the book implies), and to their future priorities? Are smartphones seen as tools for a purpose, or as part of their identity? I’m sure plenty of other books cover these issues. Perhaps it says something about my own attitude to technology that I get books out of the library about it! During my own teenage years I didn’t have a mobile phone but had access to the internet at school and the library. That wasn’t necessarily a better or worse way to grow up than with a smartphone and internet connection, yet this book definitely makes it clear that such technologies aren’t going to magically fix all the problems that teenagers face. They might make some worse and some better, in certain circumstances. What they most definitely do, however, is make incredible amounts of money for the companies that produce the hardware, run the websites, and sell the services.… (more)

danah boyd spent 10 years researching teen use of social media and has written a great book diving into themes and patterns. Similar to Sherry Turkle, boyd looked past the specifics of what teens were doing and focused on generalities and patterns of use across all social media.

As a teacher and parent, it was helpful to think through what developmental hurdles teenagers are tackling with social media as the outlet. I reflected on my teaching habits and how I model appropriate, safe, and purposeful use to my students. boyd also gave great insight on how, as a parent, I can engage in healthy ways with my kids as they form identity in a connected world.… (more)