Derek E. Baird :: Barking Robot

Trend Watch: Speaking the Language and Ministering to the Next Generation

 

Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet and the American Life Project, recently spoke at the annual conference of the National Religious Broadcasters.

 This talk will focus on the media habits of Millennials and GenX and how their patterns of gathering and creating information are different in the digital age and the impact this has on the ways that youth pastors reach out, connect and communiate with youth.

Speaking the language of the next generation

View more presentations from Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

Related: Faith, Religion, Community & Gen Y

Trend Watch: Welcome to Social Entertainment

 

Three trends are having a key impact in how consumers are using the internet: the rise of the 'packaged internet', with access through apps rather than browsers; an explosion of professional content and real-time social all contributing to what GlobalWebIndex founder Tom Smith sees as the rise of the social entertainment age.

 According to Smith, 'The open browser-based internet has failed to create the economics to deliver professional media business online, as advertising could not demand the premiums needed and consumers are unwilling to pay for content delivered through a browser.'

GlobalWebIndex's free report analyses the current situation and considers the implications for professional media, content producers and brands.

Welcome to Social Entertainment - Annual Report 2011

View more presentations from Tom Smith

Real-time social

The report identifies that a shift is currently taking place from blogs and forums to real-time sharing such as status updates and tweets, with 10% of internet users around the world updating their status daily. 'This radically changes the impact of social media, primarily creating an ongoing shared agenda and conversation towards reacting or interacting with live events and discourse.'

The rise of the packaged-internet

Mobile apps, tablets, e-readers, internet-connected TVs and gaming / video platforms are all contributing to the deterioration of the internet as a single entity. Mobile, in particular, has contributed to social entertainment, with over 17% of people surveyed having watched TV in the last month via their mobile, and 26% had watched an on-demand video via mobile phone.

Professional content explosion

The fastest growing motivations for using the internet identified by the survey were 'finding TV / films', 'finding music' and 'entertainment'. The survey also found that the prime motivation for 16-24 year olds to engage with brands is to entertain them (66%). GlobalWebIndex interprets this as a 'clear indication of the need for brands to adopt the position of content creator'. (via)

Related Links

• Gen Y, Social TV and Multiplatform Media Consumption
• Study Reveals Shift as Social Networks Become "Social Entertainment
• MTV Turns To Twitter And Facebook To Power New Flagship Show
• eGuides TV Web Extensions
• Bravo Virtual Season Finale Party a Big Hit with Viewers
• Report: Gen Y Wants TV to Get More Social
• I Want My Twitter TV?

Infographic: Youth, Digital Trends & Social Networking in China

View Large | www.gplus.com

Related Links

• Chinese Youth Digital Trends
• China's 'Angry Youth' Problem
• A Look at China's 240 Million Mobile Youth

Trend Watch: LEGO, Girls and the Color Pink

Almost immediately after the iconic Danish toy company announced that they would create a line of LEGO building blocks geared especially for girls, the outcry began.

Here's a round-up of some of the coverage.

Lego is for Girls: Focusing on boys saved the toymaker in 2005. Now the company is launching Lego Friends for “the other 50 percent of the world’s children.” Will girls buy in? [Business Week]

Lego Friends: Please Build on Possibility, Brain Plasicity: No one’s trying to thwart Lego’s growth to build onward…We’d just like to refrain from mopping up the mess of mass marketing landing on girls as stereotyped limitations instead of a gateway for girls to build lands of their own. [Shaping Youth]

Lego Targets Girls with PInk Blocks, Cute Figures and No Creativity: There's nothing gendered about the most basic sets, which just contain colored blocks in different sizes, yet Lego is considered a toy for boys.

Now after extensive research, the company is releasing a new line to woo girls, but the way they're going about it may give you the urge to kick over your brother's Tatooine playset. [Jezabel]

 

VIDEO: Lego's Billion Dollar Girl [Business Weekly]

What do you think? Are LEGO Friends sexist? Are people overreacting? What's your take?

Trend Watch: Twitter, Facebook and Social TV

Twitter Embraces Its Social Role in TV: Like so many other things that the Twitter community has established on its own (hashtags and retweets, for example), the company is now fully embracing the role it plays in supplementing the TV-watching experience of millions of people. [RRW]

Social Media and TV - Who's Talking, When and What About? : Social media continues to influence how consumers interact with brands and share content every day. Increasingly, TV viewers leverage social media as a platform to talk about and engage with TV content.

These conversations are not only opening new channels for consumer engagement with their favorite TV shows and fellow fans alike, but also are providing insight into which viewers are driving the conversations and when. [Nielson Wire]

Yahoo's IntoNow Provides Signs of Life for The Premier Digital Media Company: Yahoo! is known for acquiring startups and letting them languish. But IntoNow cranked out a whole new product--and a possible game-changer for the TV industry--in six months. Is this the beginning of something new? [Fast Company] Get the free IntoNow App on iTunes

MTV Exec: Social is a New Programming Platform: Many people are talking about how TV networks can leverage the power of social networks to help build their show audiences. But they may be missing the point. According to Dermot McCormack, EVP of Digital Media for MTV, social networks aren’t just for announcing when the next episode of Jersey Shore airs, but a whole new platform for media creation and distribution. [GigOM]

TV Isn't What it Used to Be: According to a recent Ypulse report, only 28% of students say they can’t live without TV (referring to traditional viewing), compared to 83% who can’t imagine life without music. Some students even prefer streaming video to traditional TV viewing; after all, it gives them what they want when they want it. What’s a TV company to do? [MediaPost]

In the U.S., Tablets are TV Buddies: The Nielsen Company​’s most recent research on mobile connected devices sheds new light on how consumers are using their tablets, eReaders and smartphones – and where they are using them, too. [Nielson Wire]

Multask Mania | Viewers Watch TV, Discuss on Social Sites: Almost 40% of TV viewers are discussing TV shows on social media sites, with almost three-quarters of TV viewers with broadband access, generally using the Internet at same time, per U.K.-based Ovum, a business/technology research firm. [MediaPost]

What's the Future of Social TV Look Like?: Real-time entertainment is what people are looking for–we always want something fresh to keep us up to date.  But with this demand for real-time entertainment, how has it affected traditional TV? [Silicon Angle]

The Future of TV, From Apple to ZeeBox: “The future of TV” has become a buzzword over the last few years – but what if it was time to stop talking about it and acknowledge that the future has already arrived? [TNW]

Barking Robot > Category > Social TV

Infographic: How Mobile Phones Shape the Lives of College Students

Created by: HackCollege

Trend Watch: YouTube Beats out Facebook as Top Youth Social Media Brand

A new Harris poll says that YouTube is the top social media brand among America's youth.

The video site beat Facebook as Social Media Brand of the Year in the 13- to 24-year-old age range, according to the 2012 Harris Poll Youth EquiTrend study.

In terms of YouTube’s popularity, other studies have shown that more than 2 billion videos are played every day on the vide-sharing site and that YouTube mobile receives more than 100 million views daily.

The study sought to benchmark the brands that America’s youth prefers by evaluating familiarity, quality, and purchase consideration. More than 5,000 Americans, ages eight to 24, took part in the study. [Via PR Daily]

Related: YouTube Pictures Teachers and Students Using More Video in the Classroom

DoSomething.org Wants Youth to 'Give a Spit About Cancer'

Leukemia kills more children each year than any other disease, but YOU can do something about it.

Click here to find out more about DoSomething.org's "Give A Spit About Cancer" campaign. Learn how you can start a donor drive at your school and how to sign up to swab your cheek and you could save a life.

That's it. Painless, easy, simple.

Here are some quick facts about leukemia and young people:

• Leukemia kills more children each year than any other disease.

• Young people age 18-24 are the bone marrow donors needed most.

• Only 30% of patients needing a marrow transplant can find a match within their family. The rest rely on complete strangers.

• Currently, the likelihood of finding a matching donor is 66 to 93 percent, depending on race or ethnicity. Minority donors are most needed.

• Donating marrow isn’t as scary as it sounds — and there are 2 ways to give, one that’s much like giving blood but takes a bit longer.

 

Mike Schmid Wants Kids to 'Let it Out' [INTERVIEW]

Earlier this week my interview with musician Mike Schmid was published on Ypulse.com!

Mike is a talented singer-songwriter and highly sought-after musician who has worked with some of the biggest acts in the music business.  

In addition to playing keyboards and touring with Miley Cyrus, Mike has played with the Jonas Brothers, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sheryl Crow, Kenna, Chantal Kreviazuk, Ed King, Jeffrey Steele, Van Hunt, Aly & AJ and the Corrs as well as many independent singer/songwriters, such as Connie Kim, Right the Stars and Rob Giles.

His songs have been featured on the TV shows “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Flashpoint,” “The Real World,” “All My Children,” “The Bad Girls Club,” “Felicity,” “The Black Donnellys” and others.

His new album, ‘Let it Out’ is all about expressing yourself in every possible way: dancing, dreaming, painting, singing. The album is for the kids (and kids-at-heart). It is about being yourself in every situation, a message that is resonant to children and adults alike.

• You can read the entire interview, Mike Schmid On Miley, Fame, Twitter, And Music For Kids, over on Ypulse.

• You can buy his new album for kids, 'Let it Out' on Bandcamp, CD Baby, Amazon MP3 Store and, of course, iTunes.

• Mike on Tumblr, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and his website.

Trend Watch: Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry

Quick. Tell me the age of the average game player. 12? 15? 17? Nope.

According to a new report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the average game player age is 37.

Even more surprising is the finding that in 2011, 29% of gamers were over the age of 50. In all, 72% of American households play computer of video games.

Here are some other interesting stats from the 2011 Essential Facts About the Computer & Video Game Industry report released by ESA  on the demographics of video game players.

You can read the full executive summary after the jump.

Parents & Games

"Kids play video games for fun with the goal of progressing to the next level and eventually conquering the oppoent, whether that's another player or the computer.

What's more, the social aspect--sharing tactics, experience and explanations--help cemet what they've learned." ~ James Paul Glee, author of What Video Games Have to Teach us About Learning and Literacy

• 91% of the time parents are present at the time games are purchased or rented

• 86% of the time kids receive their parents' permission before purchasing or renting a game

• 9 out of 10 parents pay attention to the content of the games their kids play

• 68% believe game play provides mental stimulation or education

Top Four Reasons Parents Play with Their Kids

• 85% Because they're asked to

• 84% It's fun for the entire family

• 81% It's a good opportunity to socialize with the kids

• 57% It's a good opportunity to monitor game content

Video Games and Parental Controls

• 98% of parents are confident in the ESRB ratings

• 86% of parents are aware of the ESRB rating system

• 75% of parents believe that the parental controls are useful

• 80% of parents place time limits on video game playing

• 74% of parents place limits on Internet usage

Gender & Gamer Demographics

"There are games now for pretty much every age, every demographic." ~ Jesse Schell, professor of entertainment technology at Carnegie Mellon University

• 58% Male 42% Female

• Women age 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (37%) than boys age 17 or younger (13%)

• 33% of gamers say that playing computer or video games is their favorite entertainment activity

How Gamers Play

"Gaming is productive. It produces positive emotion, stronger social relationships, a sense of accomplishment, and for players who are a part of a game community, a chance to build a sense of purpose."  ~ Jane McGonigal, PhD. author of Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

• 55% of gamers play games on their phones or handheld device

• 65% of gamers play games with other gamers in person

• 47% play puzzle, board game, triva or card games

2011 Essential Facts: Video Game Industry

Warner Brothers Teams Up with Facebook to Launch Social TV Series 'Aim High'

An upcoming Warner Brothers series about a high-school spy, played by Twilight star Jackson Rathbone, will pull fans into the show through a clever Facebook integration that allows viewers to have their Facebook profile information, pictures and music incorporated in the show.

"Aim High," will debut on October 18 on Facebook and will run for six episodes.

Gimmick? Or brilliant? What do you think?

Related: USA's 'Psych' Social TV Campaign Scores With Fans

From 'We' to 'Me': The Rise of Fame in Kids TV Programming and Pop Culture

Researchers at UCLA Children’s Digital Media Center have conducted a study that looked at the most popular TV programming for kids 9 to twelve between 1967 and 2007 to look for changes in the values that the shows promote.

The results, for anyone who's watched TV lately, shouldn't be too shocking.

The authors conclusion? The study found that in the 1960's the the value of community and kindness were the primary message of programming for 9-11 year olds. In one decade, from 1997 to 2007, fame leapt from #15 to #1 in importance, out of a list of 16 values.

“Preteens are at the age when they want to be popular and liked just like the famous teenagers they see on TV and the Internet. With Internet celebrities and reality TV stars everywhere, the pathway for nearly anyone to become famous, without a connection to hard work and skill, may seem easier than ever.”

Before we start placing the blame at the feet of Hannah Montana, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez or other tween stars, it should be noted that not a single tween was surveyed for this study. Instead, they interviewed adults who grew up during the particular decades included in the study.

Moreover, they also discuss--and this is important--how kids today are more attuned to values such as fame than kids in the 1970s and 1980s. The bottom line?

Parents need to do some co-watching of shows that are aimed at the pre-teen (and teen!) demographic to see what values are being conveyed. Talk to your kids. Ask them what they are thinking so you can help steer them toward more grounded and realistic outlook on life.

That's my two cents, what's yours?

You can read the entire study, The Rise of Fame: An Historical Content Analysis, in the Journal of CyberPsychology.

 

Sneak Leak: Is Pottermore a Social Network for Harry Potter Fans?

Looks like someone over on Team Pottermore forgot to lock down the assets for the widely anticipated website featuring the world of Harry Potter. This picture has been making the rounds on Twitter all morning.

The only hint from the official Pottermore.com page is: "Pottermore is a free website that builds an exciting online experience around the reading of the Harry Potter books."

So what do you think? What features do you hope the Pottermore site has? Is this something you're anxioius to join and participate? Do you think this screenshot is legit? Or a crafty plan to distract everyone until the launch in October?

Let me know in the comments!

View LARGE | via assets.pottermore.com

Boys, the Media & Body Image: An Open Letter to @TheEllenShow

Hi Ellen.

A few weeks ago I was watching a rerun of the Ellen DeGeneres Show and saw the episode with your wife Portia de Rossi talking about her book ‘Unbearable Lightness.” It was a powerful interview. Sadly Portia’s story--the pressure to look a certain way, to be a certain weight--is very typical of what happens to many young women both in Hollywood and across the country.

As I read Portia’s book, I reflected on the similarities between her experience with eating disorders and the many kids/teens/tween--both boys and girls-- who are also impacted by these “perfect” body images they see in the media, video game and entertainment industries.

As you know, these portrayals only reinforce and fuel those negative body image ideas. Ultimately they become a part of a vicious circle of self hatred, low self esteem and unrealistic goals.

While there has been lots of media coverage and press about young girls/women regarding body image & eating disorders, there has been very little devoted to how the media effects boys. In many cases, boys are an understudied group with regard to body issues (dysmorphia, bigorexia).

Even as the media continues its obsession (yes, Twilight I’m looking at you) for the almighty 'six pack', boys have been gaining on girls in eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.

So all of this had me thinking about how your show frequently has shirtless, very buff dudes on during various segments. I know it’s all done in fun--and without malice on your part--however it seems like a bit like a double standard.

In one segment you are talking about how the media fuels negative body image issues for women/girls and then in the next segment you fawn over celebrity abs or have a segment with shirtless guys.

What message does that send to a young, tween boy who’s watching your show after school?

I hope that you won’t take this as a criticism. It’s not. You have been a champion of kids and so many other issues. I admire how you have really used your high profile status to support so many, many social issues.

I really appreciate, in particular, you taking a stand on bullying. I was bullied so much in 6th grade that I had to leave school. At one point, as I was walking home from school, a bunch of kids stuck their heads out of the bus and showered me with their saliva. I know all too well how that stuff sticks with you well into adulthood. But I digress.... ;-)

I also work in the youth media/marketing world and know that we all struggle with these issues. It’s a tricky thing to find a balance between providing entertainment, marketing to kids and making sure that we think about the messages--intended or not--that we send to these kids.

I also felt that it was important that I raise this issue with you since have launched a music label (congrats!) that so far has signed artists that are primarily marketed towards a youth demographic. In doing so you will have an even more direct impact on young kids, tweens & teens.

I hope that you will take all this into consideration as you move both your TV show and music business forward. If you have any feedback, questions or need anything else, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Respectfully yours,

@derekeb

Additional Resources

• Boys and Body Image: Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate
• Packaging Boyhood
• Free eBook: The Perfect Gift for a Man: 30 Stories for Reinventing Manhood
• Buffed Boy Body Image and Teen Scene 'Hottie' Factor

The Survivors: YA Author Amanda Havard & Singer-Songwriter Chris Mann Team Up on 'Pretty Girl'

The Survivors is a new YA Fiction book series by Nashville-based author Amanda Havard set in Salem, Massachusetts during the peak of the Salem Witch Trials.

The Survivors is the first installment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries.

Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family’s sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back. On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever.

The Survivors Transmedia Campaign

Music plays a big part in Havard's creative process and over on her website she shares the soundtrack that kept her writing mojo going.

For the first book in her series, Amanda teamed up with indie singer-songwriter (and Warbler #6 on Glee!) Chris Mann to record an original song based on the book.

The end result is "Pretty Girl" an anthem written by Amanda and masterfully recorded by Chris Mann.

 

What makes this series really interesting is the way that Havard has woven social media into both her own creative process as well as the reader's experience.

She has an exciting and new vision for YA Fiction that incorporates all types of media to share the story of The Survivors.

I'm in the process of interviewing Amanda, so I don't want to give too much away. But stay tuned!

Update: Here's my interview with Amanda on Ypulse.com!

Related Resources

• Follow Amanda Havard on Twitter
• Read a Chapter from 'The Survivors'
• Follow Chris Mann on Twitter
• Listen to Chris Mann on YouTube