Why teens flock to social network sites

Danah Boyd talked about cultural and social factors that draw teens to social network sites in her article "Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life":


 * Structured lives Outside and Inside Home- the lives of teenagers in the United States are highly structured. Most teens, in addition to school, are engaged in numerous extracurricular activites, athletics, and have part-time jobs. Even when they return to their homes at the end of the day, they are still limited by the rules and expectations of their parents and families. Social Networking Sites provide an enviornment where they create the rules and can express themselves freely.
 * Mobility and Restrictions on Socializing in Public Places - It is difficult for teenagers in the United States who are unable to drive to travel or get around without depending on others. Increased restriction on teen driving, as well as curfews and loitering laws, further limit the mobility of American youth. Minors and those under the legal drinking age are further limited because they are forbidden to enter many venues. Thus, American teenagers have little access to public spaces. This hinders their ability to socialize with and interact with society as a whole. Social Networking Sites allow a means for teenagers to interact in a public sphere and interact with people their limited mobility would otherwise prohibit.


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