Teens love to share using online video more than you might think.  Nearly four in 10 teens who use the Internet take advantage of video chat using Skype and other apps. More than a quarter upload video to the web, and over 10% stream live video online for others to watch.  Forty-two percent of female teens video chat, and it’s also especially popular among people who use social networking sites.  But a recent episode involving the flirting app Skout highlights the dangers of over-sharing online. The app had to ban users under 18 after three separate cases of teenagers alleging that they were sexually assaulted by adults posing as teens on the platform.  Sure, a flirting app is a much different thing than simply uploading or streaming video to the web, but it does underscore that fact that online actions often aren’t as private or well-intentioned as we think they will be.  How can teens and their parents make sure they stay safe online? Keeping video access private whenever that’s an option and being sure not to reveal personal information are two major keys.  Streaming live video online for others to watch is more or less equally popular across income and parental education levels. When it comes to streaming video to consume content, however, it’s not a huge surprise that the more digitally savvy teens are the heaviest users. Teens who use Facebook and Twitter are more than twice as likely to stream video for entertainment than their peers who don’t use those sites. And streaming video for entertainment comes with its own set of virus and malware risks.  The security software company ZoneAlarm recently pulled data from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project to produce the infographic below. Check it out for a snapshot of how much teens use web video to share their own lives and consume content, as well as some security tips for how to do so safely.  Do you think teens share too much online? Let us know in the comments.  Thumbnail image courtesy JPott, Flickr.
Teens love to share and chat using web video. This infographic breaks down just how much, as well as provides some safety tips.