Anna Cooban: Why teenagers don't like Twitter
Jul 14 2009 by Anna Cooban, Birmingham Post
This would usually include some depiction of a celebrity scandal, not the hard hitting sincere tone many front pages adopt today – I simply don’t believe we want to sift through endless journalistic vigour regarding the scandalous exploitation of MPs’ expenses system. These matters appear of little or no relevance to our way of life and, therefore, the large majority of young people favour more trivial reading such as fashion and sports magazines. Television will continue to engage us without needing to try.
The very idea that you can be entertained without the need for physical activity appeals to even the most animated teenager. With many programmes such as Hollyoaks and the US import 90210 proving popular, it is clear we prefer to view programmes consisting of other teenagers experiencing the same situations and challenges.
By relating to the events on screen, we are reassured that our inner turmoils are shared by others and so, subsequently, our self-esteem is bolstered. Reality TV is also favoured by the younger generation – Britain’s Got Talent this year drew in a staggering 19 million viewers for its final whereas the ever decreasing ratings of Big Brother are perhaps a reflection of a programme which has long passed its sell-by-date. The underwhelming tactics taken by the producers, designed to supposedly ‘captivate’ us, have all been seen before. Introducing new housemates, conjuring up absurd tasks and unveiling hidden rooms no longer keep us engaged. We begin to realise that we are merely observing an assortment of puerile, naive individuals who will willingly engage in fierce confrontation over a mild confusion with the shopping list.
Radio, like so many other forms of media, was once hugely successful in attracting us.
However, since the dawn of the iPod empire, the world and its teenagers have all awakened to an entirely different form of audio entertainment. The ipod dock allows you to conveniently breeze through your music library whilst the tiresome drivel of radio ‘chat’ is eliminated.
Also, the ability to pick and choose what music you are subjected to only increases our favour for the dock. It is no mystery as to why radio listening figures have been dwindling for quite some time. When the likes of Radio One presenter Chris Moyles, who only last year outraged many by his comments on Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts who he branded a ‘sour-faced cow’ and ‘the ginger one’, is it any wonder that many young people are turning off in their droves – it is this brazen bullying which has once again confirmed the iPod’s status as the most favoured musical listening device.
Britain’s teenagers are clearly favouring social networking sites above all others forms of media. The pressure and need to conform within our peer group ultimately motivates us into following the ‘Facebook trend’.
By constantly updating and refining our profiles, we can create an achievable illusion of ourselves. Modifying personal details to our own advantage, combined with the capability to engage in conversation with just about anyone, strongly appeals to the us.
Therefore, as a result, the number of Facebook and MySpace members significantly increased when we were all awakened to a brand new world of virtual possibilities.
* Anna Cooban, is a student at Tudor Grange School, Solihull.
