Time to sink our teeth into the latest data thanks to Pew Research Center’s Teens, Social Media and Technology 2018 Report.

Thirteen to seventeen year olds in America were surveyed earlier this year about their use of social media and technology, with the summarised findings released today.

Highlights include a shift away from the Facebook platform, increased ownership of devices (95% have access to a smartphone) and almost 45% reporting they are almost constantly online.

What can we take from this? Teens are, unsurprisingly, spending more time online than ever.

In terms of how we reach this audience to share news of our programs, services and YA literature generally it is worth noting the increase in usage of image-based platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. These applications work best on mobile devices and are skewed to short, sharp bursts of information and visuals.

YouTube also ranks highly. While some evidence suggests YouTube has a positive impact for young people’s self esteem there are also concerns such as how it influences consumerism in this demographic.

Figures for gaming have also increased, up to a whopping 90% of teens regularly playing video games. Some people see games as filled with possibilities or breaking new storytelling ground, while other critics feel mainstream video games are failing to tell good stories.

Before moaning about the demise of the written word, it’s worth looking into how teens use YouTube and other platforms. From popular hashtags on Instagram such as #LoveOzYA and #bookstagram which encourage discovery of what their peers are reading to teens listening to free audiobooks via YouTube, there are plenty of ways to harness these technologies for good.

Agnes Nieuwenhuizen at the Centre for Youth Literature’s celebration of 21 years of innovative youth literature programming

State Library Victoria and the Centre for Youth Literature community was saddened to hear of the death of Agnes Nieuwenhuizen late last week. We asked Lili Wilkinson – as an author, former colleague and one-time attendee at CYL programs – to write a guest post.

Australia’s YA community was deeply saddened to learn that Agnes Nieuwenhuizen passed away last week at her home in Woodend, Victoria.

Agnes was a tireless advocate for YA literature, and for young readers. She founded what is now known as the Centre for Youth Literature in 1991, established the Melbourne Writers Festival Schools Program, published seven books on young people’s literature, and was much loved and respected (and sometimes feared for her forthright approach) by authors, publishers, young people and those who work for and with them.

I first met Agnes in 1992, attending my first CYL event at age 11 – a Bookgig with Isobelle Carmody. That was the day I knew I wanted to be an author. I joined the CYL team in 2003, and was grateful to work alongside Agnes until her retirement in 2005. She was my friend and mentor – she liked me because I wasn’t scared of her, and we had many a heated debate about books and ideas. She fostered my passion for YA literature, and my commitment to supporting and advocating for young readers. She was a champion for young people and their rights, for their literature, and for diversity, and I’m honoured to be one of the many people continuing that good fight.

I am not alone in my gratitude – there are countless writers and readers who owe so much to Agnes and to her legacy. She was the most fierce, fearless woman I’ve ever known, and Australia’s rich YA landscape wouldn’t be what it is today if it hadn’t be for her.

Our thoughts are with John, Jackie, Max and Agnes’s grandchildren.

Vale, Agnes.

Lili Wilkinson is an award-winning author of YA novels, including Scatterheart, Pink and Green Valentine. She established insideadog.com.au, the Inky Awards and the Inkys Creative Reading Prize at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library Victoria.