In the book, “It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens,” released Feb. 25, Microsoft researcher and ethnographer danah boyd explores major myths about teens' use of social media. She finds they engage with each other and develop a sense of identity – despite parental obstacles and other challenges.
She takes on ideas and expressions about identity, privacy, safety, danger and bullying. She also finds that adults’ fear can hinder teenagers’ ability to become informed, thoughtful and engaged citizens through online interaction.
A press tour begins Tuesday in Cambridge, Mass., and also includes the nation’s capital, Seattle, Austin and San Francisco.
In a Q&A that kicks off that tour, boyd talks about how her book covers a decade of work, including an entirely new wave of fieldwork that is for an adult audience but on behalf of teens. She also reveals what surprised her in researching the book and why it isn’t a how-to guide.
Check out Microsoft Research to find all the full Q&A and what’s next on the horizon for boyd.
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Athima Chansanchai
Microsoft News Center Staff