Text Analysis – The Article
The text that would be analyzed for this paper is an article written by Mercedes Bunz entitled “Teens prefer reading news online to Twitter” and published online in The Guardian. The contents of the article are enlightening in such a way that the author revealed a study reportedly conducted by the Pew Research Center regarding teenagers’ preferences in reading materials online. The article was published on February 4, 2010 and it would be interesting to find out if the study has been extended until contemporary times. The most interesting finding that was revealed from the study was the fact that more than half of the teenagers’ surveyed, or specifically 62% of younger teens, with ages ranging from 12 to 17 opt to get their current events, political information or news using the internet. There was an increase in the percentage of older teens, aged 14 to 17 years old to have allegedly exhibited the same preference.
The information contained herein is intriguing given that majority of the teens, about 93% to be exact, are predominantly the sector of the population who are always online. Thus, it would be illuminating for the audience to be apprised on the information that would indicate what reading materials or social networking sites appeal mostly to this segment. Through revealing the contents of the Pew Research Center, the readers were effectively informed that traditional views of teenagers being solely focused on social networking sites or blogging were actually erroneous, to some extent. As emphasized, “a massive 86% of social networking teens post comments to a friend's page or wall on a social network site and 83% post comments on friends' photos posted to an online social network” (Bunz, 2010, par. 6). Likewise, another good revelation was the fact that clearly indicated that teenagers have lesser preferences for using Twitter, as compared to their adult counterparts. This was explicitly disclosed as follows: “While 19% of adult internet users use Twitter or similar services to post short status updates and view
those of others, only 8% of 12- to 17-year-olds do so” (Bunz, 2010, par. 7).
Conclusion
It was commendable for the author, revealed to possess credibility on the subject matter for being a media and technology reporter from Berlin and whose area of focus include digital media, social networks, and online journalism, to have included the implication for disclosing such information. One therefore agrees with her contention that since technological advancement, then, recognized the rise of mobile access to the internet through smartphones, for instance, she affirmed that “the reading of news on the platform is likely to follow this development” (Bunz, 2010, par. 12). In addition, one also believes that contemporary teenagers are becoming more immersed and involved in curent events. They would like to participate in community work, and volunteer to affirm conformity to social responsibility. As such, being focused on current events through the news, which is becoming more accessible through their smartphones, is part of the trend that exemplifies responsibility and empowerment accorded to teenagers of today.
Overall, the contents of the article provide an illuminating detail to contemporary audience: both teenagers and adults like, in emphasizing the relevance of being apprised in current events, political discourse, as well as domestic and international news; more than just participating in adding commentaries or blogging in social networking sites. The audience could relate to the information provided and opt to participate in discussions at this level through being apprised on the statistics that were revealed. Other social media activities that were previously reported to have been the preferences of teenagers have already evolved into delving in more civic or community-awareness endeavors that provide opportunities to uplift the welfare
of mankind on a more global scale.
Reference
Bunz, M. (2010, February 4). Teens prefer reading news online to Twitter. Retrieved from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/media/pda/2010/feb/04/pew-research-teenagers-online-behaviour
