Adolescents and the Internet: Media Appropriation and Perspectives on Education

Abstract

This chapter deals with young people’s digital media appropriation in an education perspective throughout Europe and Quebec. The comparative study, Mediappro, shows that 12 to 18-year-olds develop numerous and shared uses in fundamental domains such as ethics or social issues of IT, but their appropriation remains incomplete, mostly in information and creative activities. The study also highlights such a significant gap between home and school appropriation in all the countries that for the adolescents Internet activities in school are not part of “their Internet.” The benefits of this research study lay on a more precise knowledge of adolescents’ attitudes and skills and therefore the possibility to elaborate recommendations towards the main participants in education issues, parents as well as school systems.