Week 6 - Adolescent Interview

Adolescent Interview

I was able to interview my 17 year old sister about her technology use.  I enjoyed doing this interview because notice how often she uses her phone, but it was interesting to actually talk to her about it and get her perspective on this.

What type of technology or device do you think you use the most?

A phone. (iPhone)

What do you use your phone the most for?

It depends.  To look stuff up or talk to people.

Do you text or call people more?

Text.

How often do you actually use your phone to call people?

Everyday, to talk to you and mom (haha).

Do you typically call your friends?

No because it’s easier to text.  You can talk throughout the day.

Do you think you would talk with your friends as much as you do without texting phone?

Yes, sometimes we email each other.

Okay, what if there was no texting or e-mail, and you could only call?

Then no, we wouldn’t talk as much.

How often do you think you use technology for school?  It is a choice or required?

Everyday.  It’s required because we have to research things and write papers.

Do you like having to use technology as much as you do? Why?

Not really because it gives me headaches sometimes and makes me tired. 

I really was not very surprised by the answers my sister gave me during the interview.  Not only because she is my sister, but her answers were fairly typical of someone around her age.  A lot of teenagers are so dependent on technology and use it to stay in constant communication with each other.  (Although, ironically, she did state that if it were not for newer forms of communication, such as texting, she knows she would not talk to her friends as much).  I did find it interesting that she did admit that she does not like having to use technology as much as she does for school.  I know that, personally, I do not like having to be on the computer all the time, but I assumed that it did not bother most younger kids.