It's complicated: the social lives of networked teens

danah boyd

doi:10.5860/choice.51-7042

Cited by 1,607Impact of Technology on AdolescentsSocial Media and PoliticsMedia and Digital Communication

It's complicated: the social lives of networked teens

danah boyd·2014·Choice Reviews Online

DOI 10.5860/choice.51-7042

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Abstract

What is new about how teenagers communicate through services such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? Do social media affect the quality of teens lives? In this eye-opening book, youth culture and technology expert danah boyd uncovers some of the major myths regarding teens' use of social media. She explores tropes about identity, privacy, safety, danger, and bullying. Ultimately, boyd argues that society fails young people when paternalism and protectionism hinder teenagers ability to become informed, thoughtful, and engaged citizens through their online interactions. Yet despite an environment of rampant fear-mongering, boyd finds that teens often find ways to engage and to develop a sense of identity. Boyds conclusions are essential reading not only for parents, teachers, and others who work with teens but also for anyone interested in the impact of emerging technologies on society, culture, and commerce in years to come. Offering insights gleaned from more than a decade of original fieldwork interviewing teenagers across the United States, boyd concludes reassuringly that the kids are all right. At the same time, she acknowledges that coming to terms with life in a networked era is not easy or obvious. In a technologically mediated world, life is bound to be complicated.

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Norms reinforced online do not differ much from those that exist at school.
“Although distinct from the of fl ine world, when teenagers go online, they bring their friends and social networks with them, so the norms that are reinforced online do not differ much from those that exist at school (Boyd, 2014).”
From “It’s just a joke”: gender, sexuality and trivialisation in adolescent online violence such as cyberhate, cyberbullying, and online grooming (2025) · cites this paper as Boyd, 2014

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Authors: boyd, D.
Affiliations: New York University (US)
Corresponding author: danah boyd
ORCID: danah boyd
Venue: Choice Reviews Online
Publisher: American Library Association
Published: 2014-07-16
Volume: 51
Issue: 12
Pages: 51-7042-51-7042
ISSN: 0009-4978 (ISSN-L)
1523-8253
DOI: 10.5860/choice.51-7042
OpenAlex: W1521354552
Cited by: 1,607
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 166 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 68 · 2022: 89 · 2021: 130 · 2020: 156 · 2019: 164 · 2018: 209 · 2017: 174 · 2016: 165 · 2015: 149 · 2014: 59 · 2013: 1
Type: book review
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Choice Reviews Online (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Social Sciences › Communication › Social Media and Politics
Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Media and Digital Communication
Keywords: adolescents, social media, online identity, privacy, online safety, cyberbullying, paternalism, youth empowerment, citizenship, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, youth culture, emerging technologies

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It's complicated: the social lives of networked teens

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