Tweens' characterization of digital technologies

The tweens are a transitional age group undergoing deep physical and psychological transformations. Based on a thirteen-focus group research design involving 103 students, and applying a tweens-centered approach, the characteristics of SMS, IM, Internet, digital photos, electronic games, and email were analyzed. Categories such as moral issues, psychological and social consequences, problems/drawbacks, general benefits, and technical attributes synthesized the main characteristics attached to each form of digital technology. Their relative relevance was not gender dependent. Furthermore, tweens exhibited both metacognitive knowledge and personal epistemological observations associated with most of the digital technologies.

► Tweens' concepts of: SMS, IM, Internet, digital photos, electronic games, and email.
► A thirteen-focus group research design involving 103 Tweens was analyzed.
► A total of 175 different attributes were produced.
► Tweens exhibited both metacognitive knowledge and personal epistemological beliefs.
► Their relative relevance was not gender dependent.