While many of you were praising the New York Times blogging story today, I was pleased to see a local version of the story in the Rocky Mountain News. Here’s my favorite part:
Leigh Marriner of the Silicon Valley
consulting and market research firm Cheskin said businesses shouldn’t
underestimate teens - especially with technology."They’re setting the trends," said Marriner.
So who are these kids?
Austin Caires, a 15-year-old at D’Evelyn Senior High School in
Jefferson County, created a Web site for his Scout troop. While a work
in progress, the home page offers Scouting history. There’s an events
calendar.Caires even started his own Web site design business. He takes pride in his work because it demonstrates an important point.
"Being young doesn’t matter," he said. "You can still be good at something."
Twelve-year-old Chandler Branzell, who attends Lesher Junior
High School in Fort Collins, also has created Web sites for a variety
of clientele.How does he do it, once a person explains what they want?
"A picture pops into my head of what I want to do. And I come home and work on it," Branzell said.
Teens’ online habits offer opportunities and challenges for businesses trying to reach them.
"You have to go where they spend their time. And they spend
their time online," said Michelle Andreas, vice president at the San
Diego market research firm Claritas.
A 12- year old is making websites while his school district blocks blogging. I’ll let you look for the meaning lurking in there.
