CROSSROADS IN CULTURAL STUDIES
Fourth International Conference
June 29 - July 2, 2002, Tampere, Finland

Youth, Media and Communication Technologies Sessions

Organisers: Virpi Oksman and Pirjo Rautiainen

Youth, Media and Communication Technologies I

Ribak, Rivka (University of Haifa, Israel) "I AM THE AUTHORITY":KNOWLEDGE AND IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION AMONG YOUNG COMPUTER EXPERTS
This paper examines the reconfiguration of such entrenched binaries as child-adult, dependence-independence and entertainment-education in light of the massive domestication of the computer. Conventionally, age is intimately associated with independence, and knowledge is related to both. Young computer experts and parents who depend on their children's computer mastery appear to subvert this hierarchy and question the dichotomies on which it is founded. Drawing on extended observations and interviews with Israeli families and family members, this paper will explore (1) the specific computer practices that constitute a sense of (adolescent) independence and (parental) dependence; (2) the positioning of these practices in relation to the use of other communication technologies (notably the sense of independence derived from the ownership/use of the mobile phone); and (3) the cultural reconstruction (through moral panic and pride) of undisciplined learning and intuitive expertise as legitimate sources of physical and psychological
independence.

Uotinen, Johanna (University of Joensuu, Finland) "I DIDN'T GROW INTO FULL-DAY TUNER OF MY MOPED" - ON THE COMPUTER EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG MEN
In the focus of my presentation is the experience-based relationship between young men and IT as it appears in the "computer-biographies" written by IT students at North Karelian Polytechnic (NCP). I spread the invitation to participate in the writing of computer-biographies in North Karelia from the end of the year 1998 to the end of the year 1999. With the computer-biographies I mean freely written texts based on given themes, considering the meanings and effects that IT have on the different areas of life. On the whole I got 129 texts about people's experiences and opinions about IT. Out of those seventy were written by young male IT students at NCP. Through these texts I ask what does information technology mean to the young men? What kind of connection there is between (young) men and machines?

Bober, Magdalena (Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom) BOYS AND GIRLS ON THE NET
The paper examines the gender differences in the Internet use of young people, focussing on - what types of sites and Internet services girls use compared to boys, - attitudes towards the Internet, - what website creators think of gender issues surrounding the Web and - what consequences the points listed above have on young people's development of identity and gender roles. The data is derived from a survey and interviews with 11-19-year-olds, interviews with creators of websites for young people, an analysis of these sites as well as an analysis of personal homepages made by young people. The findings will be compared to previous research on the differences between girls and boys using the media. It will be argued that girls use the Internet in a more communicative way than boys, furthermore that the education system is more favourable towards boys using ICTs and that websites targeted at girls reinforce existing gender stereotypes.

Youth, Media and Communication Technologies II

Runnel, Pille and Vengerfeldt, Pille (Tartu University, Estonia) SIGNIFICANCE OF INTERNET AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE OF ESTONIA
It is said that the number of webpages, a person regularily visits is around ten. Those ten webpages (in broader context applications) define what Internet means and how it is understood by the user. Our paper will look at the associations that young people have with Internet. What Internet means for them and how do they associate it with their everyday activities. Our aim is to show how different age groups have different associations regarding Internet, how their level of understanding and speaking of Internet variates. We have been using mind maps and interviews to compare elementary-, primary- and grammarschool pupils, but also at University students in both bachelor and master level. For comparison we will use mind maps from university lectors.

Sotamaa, Olli (University of Tampere, Finland) VIRTUAL DANCEFLOORS?: NOTES ON SPACIAL PRACTICES OF DIGITAL CLUBBING
The history of club cultures undeniably shows that clubbers and ravers have always been enthusiastic on experimenting with new gadgets and technologies. Therefore it is no wonder that clubbing communities have quickly adopted the new forms of digital communication. Cheap digital technology has made it possible to expand the clubbing experiences to the net: hundreds of club related websites combine bulleting boards, fanzines, listings, flyers, DJ play lists, live webcasts etc. Contrary to many other youth subcultures clubbing has traditionally been strongly tied to certain places and locations - the clubs. Therefore the virtual space of internet challenges the whole nature of this subculture. Through interviews and analysis of online discussions I have tried to outline the central effects digital communication technologies have on the categories of space (spectacle, ritual, social space) both in terms of the whole clubbing subculture and of actual club events.

Batsirai, Mike Chivhanga (City University of London, United Kingdom) MOBILE PHONE 'CONVENIENCE' - FOCUS ON TEENAGERS IN THE UK
The paper will show key trends in mobile phone usage among teenagers in the age group 12 to 19 in the UK. The analysis is based on an international study, funded by Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd that involved other project partners in Japan and Finland. The UK study has shown that a distinct mobile phone culture is emerging among teenagers. It's serving both as an essential tool for social networking and a new lifestyle symbol. The teenagers are driving change through personalisation of the mobile phone device and services and peer influence among other major pushes. A model of the interplay between these forces - teenagers as a segment of the mobile phone user population, mobile phone manufacturers, mobile phone service providers and regulatory authorities is suggested to increase the strategic development and positive impact of wireless mobile devices not just among teenagers, but other age groups.