STUDENTS in their early teens are more likely to use social media for inappropriate or bullying purposes than their younger or older peers, a regional survey has found.
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Early results from a University of New England study into the social media habits of local and national youth has found some surprising statistics on how our young people interact.
The survey, which has been conducted over the past two years, has found there are more youth who prefer to use social networking app SnapChat than there are engaged on Facebook.
When they get to year eight they start using for abuse or sharing in an inappropriate manner or bullying text.
- Dr Sue Gregory
Around 93 per cent of the respondents reported using Snapchat the most while Facebook came in at 91 per cent.
Popular photo sharing site Instagram wasn't far behind at 83 per cent, but Dr Sue Gregory from the University's school of education said young people are gravitating towards Snapchat because its sharing functions are instant.
"If you had a photo and wanted to send it out to friends on Facebook, you'd take the photo and upload it and put a caption in to your device, with Snapchat,” ,” Dr Gregory said.
“It lets you take a photo and people keep them for one to ten seconds and after that it deleted off my phone and their phone and we're done with it.
"It's easier for them."
However, Dr Gregory said with the new breed of instantaneous sharing channels there is also the temptation for risky behavior.
"In our findings to date, we are finding that there is little usage of SnapChat in primary schools but when it's used, it's for fun purposes,” she said
"In secondary school from year seven it is similar to primary schools, but when they get to year eight they start using it for abuse or sharing in an inappropriate manner or bullying text.
"We have found that in year 11 they start to realise the need to be more careful.
“We had a focus group a week or so ago of year ten students who were very mature about their use of it."