Literary Abstract

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Literary abstract

BIBLIOGRAPHY Way, A. K., & Redden, S. M. (2017). The study of youth online: a critical review and agenda. Review Of Communication, 17 (2), 119–136.

Way and Redden explores the impact of online technologies on youth by focusing on the social media. They are inspired to determine how internet effect communications. The authors assume that the modes of technology used by audience vary according to their age groups and education. The article explores the research question; has internet changed the interaction with scholarly avenues that transformed youth? The purpose of the study is thus examine the activities that are happening online and offering better opportunities of learning to the students. It is assumed that youth is the central focus of the scholarly research because they have to acquire degrees that require research work.

Way and Redden have relied on the extensive literature search for studying the role of internet in academic life of students. Data has been taken from empirical studies that offer evidence about the practical implications of internet. To conduct more practical research the authors have focused on adopting a strategy of assessing the online engagement of students. Online activities examined for the study include evaluation of social media, digital media, technology and internet. A comprehensive communication database is used that include over 100 scholarly articles, research studies and journals. Way and Redden have followed an appropriate search strategy by using the relevant key terms and chosen the articles that provides in-depth discussions on the impact of technology on academic research opportunities. The articles are included that discusses the civic engagement, socialization and content analysis. The authors have conducted a content analysis for studying the relationship between the chosen factors. Educational tools/ technology and other relevant terms are used for examining the role of research. Uses and gratification theory is integrated for determining how young people spend their time on internet.

The results of the study are based on the content analysis that highlights the uses of technology or online activity. The common reasons include include improved communication of users with the scholarly sources, their online communications and self-reporting attitudes. The findings also depict students engage with online platforms like educational platforms and social media. There are both positive and negative impacts such as the engagement of students with scholarly platforms provide wider opportunities of conducting research. The benefits involve fast access to the academic sources that provide better opportunities for studying. There are also some disadvantages of technology because availability of internet convince users to spend unnecessary time on social media. This undermines their performance in academics because they waste their time. Findings also depicts that most of the students are unaware of privacy concerns and often lose their credible information. Social media also leads to the formation of identity in youth. Online communications impact social competence and self-concept.

The findings of the author are supported by previous studies that determined the relationship of online activity with youth. Youth-centered research depicts positive impact of technology in engaging users. This is supported by literature (Elsada, 2010; Panatoe et al., 2011; Sun et al., 2012). These studies have confirmed that technology has enhanced the research opportunities by offering immediate access to internet and online sources.

The article is useful because it will allow researchers and students to understand the association of online activity with academic opportunities of youth. The sources are credible because they are taken from reliable database. The reliability of the study is proved by the evidentiary support provided by the scholarly articles. This study also leads to the future research by providing direction of analyzing relationship between academic studies and youth interaction. The future researchers can use this information for studying how technology leads to improved academic performance.

Reference

BIBLIOGRAPHY Way, A. K., & Redden, S. M. (2017). The study of youth online: a critical review and agenda. Review Of Communication, 17 (2), 119–136.