What does the future hold for teens, technology, and libraries?

1. Future of Teens and
Technology
Mobile Devices and
Apps

2. Teens love mobile devices
• According to Pew’s
Teens and
Technology 2013
poll, 78% of teens
have a cell phone.
• Almost half of
those owning cell
phones have
smartphones.
• 1 in 4 teens has a
tablet.

3. Smartphone use among teens
increased 14% from 2011 to 2012!

4. • Of those
owning mobile
devices, well
over half of
them download
apps to their
cell phone or
tablet.

5. Teens want more apps!
• Teens use apps to communicate, listen
to music, shoot videos, and browse
the internet.
• Libraries should leverage this by
promoting the library’s offerings on
these apps.
• Libraries should have a strong
presence on social media.
• Libraries should closely monitor new
and trending apps to stay current
with teens.
• Librarians should be seen as
technology gurus who can help teen
patrons with app issues.

6. Pros
• App use is on the rise.
• New apps are being created all the
time.
• Young librarians will likely be more
comfortable with app usage and can
bring new ideas to the table.
• Apps are predominately free or
inexpensive.
• Most apps are available on many types
of devices (apple, android, etc).

7. Cons
• Teens will delete an app if they have
privacy concerns or popularity is not
high.
• Librarians will have to stay up to
date on which apps to leverage most.
• Digital divide still exists – 25% of
teens do not have a mobile device.
• Teens gravitate toward free apps –
most apps with cost associated will
be avoided.

8. What new apps would teens
use?
• Does the library itself have an app?
Is this financially feasible? Would
teens use it?
• Do teens want more apps to help them
with schoolwork?
• Would they use an app that recommends
hot new books or authors (YALSA
bookfinder!)?
• We know that teens use apps for fun –
but would they use apps designed to
help them find information?

9. YES!!!!!
• Rising usage of mobile
devices and apps suggests
that teens will use apps for
a variety of purposes in the
future!

10. References
• Madden, M., Lenhart, A., Duggan, M., Cortesi,
S., & Gasser, U. (2013, March 13). Teens
and technology 2013. Pew Research Center.
Retrieved from
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/File
s/Reports/2013/PIP_TeensandTechnology2
013.pdf
• Madden, M., Lenhart, A., Cortesi, S., &
Gasser, U. (2013, August 22). Teens and
mobile apps privacy. Pew Research Center.
Retrieved from
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teensand-Mobile-Apps-Privacy/Main
Findings/Teens-and-Mobile-AppsPrivacy.aspx