Teens' Favorite Social Media Platforms

 The Pew Research report reveals that YouTube, TikTok and Instagram are the most popular platforms among teens, with YouTube being used regularly by 90% of surveyed teens. Instagram and WhatsApp are seeing increased usage, while Facebook and X, the original giants of social media, have experienced significant declines in popularity among this demographic.

Faverio, M., & Sidoti, O. (2024). Teens, social media and technology. Pew Research Center.

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/12/12/teens-social-media-and-technology-2024/

Perceptions about fake news

According to a new survey by Pew Research Center, most Americans suspect that made-up news is having an impact. About two-in-three U.S. adults (64%) say fabricated news stories cause a great deal of confusion about the basic facts of current issues and events. When it comes to how to prevent the spread of fake news, many Americans expect social networking sites, politicians and the public itself to do their share.
Barthel, M., Mitchell, A., & Holcomb, J. (2016). Many Americans believe fake news is sowing confusion. Washington, DC; Pew Research Center.
http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2016/12/14154753/PJ_2016.12.15_fake-news_FINAL.pdf

Libraries' values report

A new report finds that 76% of respondents believe libraries serve the educational needs of their communities “very well” or “pretty well.” Library users tend to think of themselves as “lifelong learners”—97% of users say the term applies “very well” or “pretty well”; 98% of library website users feel the same way. Additionally, these views arise in a context where strong majorities of adults consider themselves “lifelong learners” and libraries around the country are working to fit their programs and services into local educational ecosystems. As a rule, libraries’ performance in learning arenas gets better marks from women, blacks, Hispanics, those in lower-income households, and those ages 30 and older. The report also found out that many do not know about key education services that libraries provide.
Libraries and learning. (2016). Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning/

Lifelong learning sites research

A recent Pew research on lifelong learning and technology revealed that "A large majority of Americans seek extra knowledge for personal and work-related reasons. Digital technology plays a notable role in these knowledge pursuits, but place-based learning remains vital to many and differences in education and income are a hallmark of people’s learning activities." By significant margins (81% to 52% for personal learners and 75% to 55% for professional learners), people pursue training in a location (like a library) rather than on the Internet.
Pew Research Center. (2016). Lifelong learning and technology. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/03/22/lifelong-learning-and-technology/.

Millennial view of libraries

A new report synthesized the library habits of Americans 16-20 years old. The survey questioned how they see libraries’ roles in their lives and communities. The good news is that young people are reading as much as older adults, and are even more likely to have read a book in the past 12 months. Also, their library use is holding steady. Nonetheless, the report warns, their levels of engagement vary in a number of ways.
Millennials read about as much as older adults, with 43 percent saying that they read a book in some format (print, audiobook, or ebook) every day. As a group, they are also as likely as older adults to have used a library in the past 12 months, and more likely to have used a public library website.
One of the survey’s most interesting findings is that, despite the major presence of technology in their lives, 62 percent of the group as a whole agrees there is “a lot of useful, important information that is not available on the Internet,” as opposed to 53 percent of older Americans. Still, 98 percent of all Millennials believe that “the Internet makes it much easier to find information today than it was in the past,” and 79 percent of those surveyed hold that “people who are without internet access are at a real disadvantage.” A full 98 percent of Millennials use the Internet, as opposed to 82 percent of those over 30.
At the same time, only 57 percent of those surveyed believed that “it’s easy to separate the good information from the bad information online.” Some 61 percent of all Americans—those over 30 as well as the Millennials—have a library card, and roughly half of the younger Americans have visited a library in the past year.
However, the report notes that Millennials do not seem to be engaging with libraries to the fullest extent possible.Zickuhr, K., & Rainie, L. (2014). Younger Americans and Public Libraries. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/09/10/younger-americans-and-public-libraries/

Library perceptions studies

The Pew Research Center’s studies about libraries and where they fit in the lives of their communities and patrons have uncovered some surprising facts about what Americans think of libraries and the way they use them.
- Those ages 65 and older are less likely to have visited a library in the past 12 months than those under that age.
- Although 10% of Americans have never used a library, they think libraries are good for their communities.
- E-book reading is rising but just 4% of Americans are “e-book only” readers.
- Those who read both e-books and printed books prefer reading in the different formats under different circumstances.
-  Those who use libraries are more likely than others to be book buyers and actually prefer to buy books, rather than borrow them.
- Many patrons are comfortable with the idea of getting recommendations from librarians based on their previous book-reading habits.
Rainie, L. (2014). 7 surprises about libraries in our surveys. Pew Research Center.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/30/7-surprises-about-libraries-in-our-surveys/

Teens and tech research

This article discusses findings from 3 Pew Internet Projects, providing an overiew of tech in teens' lives, the role of libraries in the lives of older teeas and YAs, and the impact of the Internet on middle and high school students' research habits.
Zickuhr, K. (2014). Teens and tech: What the research says. YALS (winter), 33-37.

Report on perceptions of public libraries

A national report finds most Americans feel that public libraries have done a good job embracing new technology, but are split on whether libraries are as essential as they were in the past for finding information. In a larger sense, Americans strongly value the role of public libraries in their communities. Many library resources are particularly valued by those who are unemployed, retired, or searching for a job, as well as those living with a disability and Internet users who lack home Internet access.
Zickhur, K., Rainie, L., Purcell, K., & Duggan, M. (2013). How Americans value public libraries in their communities. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/12/11/libraries-in-communities/?utm_source=Mailing+List&utm_campaign=11c18b5928-Libraries_In_Communities_Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_79a7fe984b-11c18b5928-398525145

Online privacy report

A new survey finds that most internet users would like to be anonymous online, but many think it is not possible to be completely anonymous online. Some of the key findings:

• 86% of internet users have taken steps online to remove or mask their digital footprints—ranging from clearing cookies to encrypting their email.
• 55% of internet users have taken steps to avoid observation by specific people, organizations, or the government.

The representative survey of 792 internet users also finds that notable numbers of internet users say they have experienced problems because others stole their personal information or otherwise took advantage of their visibility online. Specifically:

• 21% of internet users have had an email or social networking account compromised or taken over by someone else without permission.
• 12% have been stalked or harassed online.
• 11% have had important personal information stolen such as their Social Security Number, credit card, or bank account information.
• 6% have been the victim of an online scam and lost money.
• 6% have had their reputation damaged because of something that happened online.
• 4% have been led into physical danger because of something that happened online.

 Lee Rainie, et. al. (2013). Anonymity, privacy, and security online. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Anonymity-online.aspx

Technology and School Libraries Impact

Technology is playing a greater role in the school library, with digital collections replacing encyclopedias and books and a growing focus on libraries as collaboration centers. Studies have shown that this shift can be effective in improving teaching and learning, especially if teachers and school librarians work together. A 2012 Institute of Museum and Library Services study that spanned 10 years analyzed library conditions and their impact on learning and literacy development in two Philadelphia neighborhoods. The researchers found that, when comparing a poor community with an affluent community, “children with early access to print and technology continue to build and gain knowledge. Children who don’t have early access enter school far behind and are taught the ‘basics.’”  
Schwarz, B., & Lance, K. (2013). Pennsylvania School Libraries Pay Off: Investments in Student Achievement and Academic Standards. PA School Library Project.
http://paschoollibraryproject.org/home 

Youths' reading habits report

More than eight in ten Americans between the ages of 16 and 29 read a book in the past year, and six in ten used their local public library. At the youngest end of the spectrum, high schoolers in their late teens (ages 16-17) and college-aged young adults (ages 18-24) are especially likely to have read a book or used the library in the past 12 months. And although their library usage patterns may often be influenced by the requirements of school assignments, their interest in the possibilities of mobile technology may also point the way toward opportunities of further engagement with libraries later in life. A couple of salient findings include:
- Among Americans who read e-books, those under age 30 are more likely to read their e-books on a cell phone (41%) or computer (55%) than on an e-book reader such as a Kindle (23%) or tablet (16%).
- Many of these young readers do not know they can borrow an e-book from a library, and a majority of them express the wish they could do so on pre-loaded e-readers.
- High schoolers (ages 16-17) are especially reliant on the library for their reading and research needs. They are more likely than other age groups to have used the library in the past year, especially to have checked out print books or received research assistance.
Kathryn Zickuhr, Lee Rainie, Kristen Purcell, Mary Madden and Joanna Brenner. (2012). Younger Americans’ Reading and Library Habits. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/10/23/younger-americans-reading-and-library-habits/