Teens Migrating to Twitter...for Privacy? - Page 2
Lately, teens now turn to simple microblogging services, in particular Twitter, in order to make their presence in the internet without being discovered by certain close loved ones, like family and some close friends.
Twitter allows users to change their usernames as many as they want without limits, have multiple accounts, still share photos and videos in different ways, not to mention that they can follow their favorite celebrities on their happenings without any form of restriction. Best of all, a user’s tweets doesn’t have to be completely public and have the power to provide access to anyone whom they trust. Twitter’s customizing settings are also easy to use and to navigate, making the service one of the most user-friendly for the non-tech savvy folk.
In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, a nonprofit organization monitoring tech-based habits of the general public, 16% of youth from ages 12 to 17 used Twitter as of last July. Two years before, that same percentage was just 8%. Another survey conducted by the organization also showed that nearly one in five 18- to 29-year-olds have grown to using Twitter on a regular basis.
One teen at a study stated that being on Facebook is like shouting to a crowd, while Twitter is like speaking to a room. Teens also stated to the Pew researchers that, like peer pressure in school, they feel social pressure on Facebook, in which they have to feel obliged to “friend” someone whom they don’t know very well or may feel uncomfortable with.
Twitter, on the other hand, helps teens maintain their privacy and easily be able to share their thoughts, their photos and videos or any cool discoveries to their most trusted friends without having it spread to friends of friends or even family members.
Today, teens use Twitter for a variety of reasons. Privacy and security has become the primary reason why.
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