Spotlight on Digital Media And Learning

6.2.10 | A recent survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds older generations could learn a few tips about online privacy from young people. When compared with older users, the report found, young adults are more likely to restrict what they share online and whom they share it with.

For example, 71 percent of young adults age 18 to 29 who use social networking sites have changed their privacy settings vs. 55 percent of those age 50 to 64. The report also found that young adults say they are more likely to delete unwanted comments and to remove their name from photos that were tagged to identify them.

In one example, Marlene McManus, a 21-year-old recent college grad who is now job searching, told the Associated Press she is very selective about what she shares on social networking sites.  McManus has removed embarrassing college photos from her Facebook page and has stopped using Twitter. “I have to present a public face that doesn’t have the potential to hurt my image,” she said.

In a post on her blog, researcher danah boyd says the Pew study is important because it counters a lot of the myths adults have about young adults’ online behavior:

In today’s discussions about privacy, “youth don’t care about privacy” is an irritating but popular myth. Embedded in this rhetoric is the belief that youth are reckless risk-takers who don’t care about the consequences of their actions. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Interestingly, young adults are less trusting than older users of sites like Facebook that host their content; some are even hesitant to use their real names.

But many young people have learned lessons about privacy the hard way. As boyd points out, many have made mistakes and watched their friends make mistakes they regret. Youth are not always successful at negotiating through the confusing and ever-changing tools and privacy controls on social networking sites.

It’s ironic, notes boyd, that it took Facebook’s foibles to draw the public’s full attention to these important privacy issues. Younger users are obviously paying attention.

You can read the full Pew report online here.

Plus: For more on Facebook and privacy, see boyd’s earlier posts: “Facebook and ‘radical transparency’ (a rant)” and “Quitting Facebook is pointless; challenging them to do better is not.”