80 Future Forwards: Exploring Frontiers in Education
How Important is social media to your life?
Very Somewhat Neither
important nor
Unimportant
Somewhat
Unimportant
Very
Unimportant
20.3% 48% 23% 5% 4%
Why do you use Social Media?
Communicate with
Family
Keep in Touch with
Friends
Play
Games
Other
55% 91% 23% 18%
Which do you value more about social media, the sending/sharing of
information or receiving/viewing information?
Sending/Sharing Receiving/Viewing Value both Equally
4% 32% 63%
Conspicuously, students did not report that social media was used for
self-promotion or building an online reputation. Few of them mentioned
using it for finding information or news-sharing. Teenagers seem to agree
that the primary positive aspect of social media is to share
communication with people they already know. These two young social
media users share their value of using these apps:
It's helped me keep in touch with my old friends, if I didn't have
an Instagram or snapchat I probably wouldn't be friends with
them anymore because we would grow apart.
14 year old female in UK ( 2 country moves)
[Social Media] Allows people to connect and share images and
experiences with friends and family. It brings joy.
13 year old female in UK ( 2 country moves)
