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The hottest new hangout for middle schoolers is NPR’s comment section?
Middle schoolers have discovered NPR's comment section as an alternative to social media, as parents try to limit their online presence. On 'This American Life', host Ira Glass reveals how kids are using the comments of the NPR podcast 'Wild Card' as a group chat, unnoticed by adults, exemplifying their search for spaces with minimal adult oversight.
Key points
- Parents are attempting to keep children off social media.
- Middle schoolers are using NPR's comment section as a hidden space for communication.
- Initially thought to be bot traffic, comments feature indecipherable emojis and abbreviations.
- An NPR producer recognized the comments as likely from middle schoolers running a group chat.
- Middle schoolers sought out podcasts with few comments, indicating their desire for spaces without adult scrutiny.
Why it matters
- This trend showcases the ongoing struggle between adults trying to control children's online activity.
- It highlights the rise of Gen Z's digital literacy and adaptability, utilizing unexpected platforms for communication.
- The phenomenon is reflective of broader trends where younger generations seek privacy in digital spaces, similar to TikTok's appeal over Facebook.
The unexpected popularity of NPR's comment section among middle schoolers highlights their ingenuity in finding private spaces online, challenging parents' attempts to monitor social media use and reflecting wider trends in youth communication.