The children of today are really no different to those of years gone by. They want to hang out with their mates, they want to be included in social groups, they want to take risks and push boundaries, and they want to explore who they are in relation to their peers and to the rest of the world.

The big difference however, is the world in which our children now live.

In the past, these experiences were gained in places that were relatively private. In bedrooms, schoolyards, in local parks and shopping centres. Places where the surroundings were known, controlled and familiar.

Today the setting is very different. They still want privacy. They still want a space to explore. They still want to be in charge of who hears what they have to say.

But privacy means having the ability to control a situation and the ability to have control over audience, context and reach. The minute we upload a photo, update a status or engage in any online communication, we have lost that control. We have lost that privacy.

Herein lies the conundrum for adolescents of today. [Read more...]