Part 2 - Notes

Part 2 -
Learning the
language of
technology
Connecting our worlds
ReachOutPro.com.au Educational Module

Part 2. Learning the language of technology


Part 2- Learning the
language of technology
The following part is designed to give you a basic overview of some of the popular
programs, sites and technologies in use by young people. This overview is intended to
give you a flavour of the technologies, but is not intended as a complete guide to the
programs.

Learning Objectives:

• To develop a basic understanding of concepts and language associated with
information communication technologies (ICT) used by young people.

• To develop familiarity with some of the main online resources that young people use.

• Practical exercises/ suggestions on how to start a blog, Twitter or join Facebook.

Before using each technology, it is important to consider how this technology might
best suit you and your work with young people. As the evidence supporting the use of
technology is still emerging - it’s important to use good clinical and ethical judgement
when using technology with young people. We also recommend reading Part 4 which
outlines risks and considerations for keeping yourself and your clients safe.

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Part 2 -
Facebook



What is it?
Facebook (www.Facebook.com) is an online networking site where users may create a
personal profile, with which they add other users as friends, exchange private messages,
photos, links, and can receive automatic notifications when their friends update their own
profiles. Additionally, users may join common interest user groups, such as those organised
by workplace, school or college, or other interests [1].

Users are able to vary the level of privacy of their profile so that the range of information
offered to others can vary from very little on high privacy settings, to being able to see all
the information posted when privacy settings are low.

How young people use it
• Keeping up to date with friends, organisations & campaigns
• Organising and sharing events
• Sharing links, news, photos, videos etc.
• Commenting on status updates, news, photos, videos and activities
• Starting discussions on topics of interest
• Creating groups of common interest

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How would using Facebook add value
to my work with young people?
As a part of one-on-one work with a young person, they may allow you to view their profile
as part of a sharing exercise if they are not comfortable opening up to you initially (see Part
3 of this module).

Creating an organisation profile allows you to share helpful information, articles & tools
with a broad range of young people in the space where they are spending time online. You
might also use it to facilitate online discussions on mental health or youth issues, for which
an online forum provides a relaxed, non-confrontational environment in which to participate
and share their thoughts with peers. Additionally, creating an online group may also mean
that online resources and media can be shared and commented on. By encouraging young
people to actively participate you can enhance their self-efficacy and empowerment.

If considering using social networking to engage with young people, it may be useful to
refer to part four of this module in which we refer to a set of guidelines for establishing
professional barriers around the use of social media

Exercise: Set up your own
Facebook page
Online social media & news blog Mashable has compiled an excellent guide book for
Facebook, from basics to advanced use. You can check it out here:
http://mashable.com/guidebook/Facebook/

1. Read Part 4 about safety and privacy online.

2. Set up your own Facebook account at http://www.Facebook.com/. Use the
suggested guide book from Mashable if needed.

3. Review your privacy settings and set these to the level of privacy you desire.
These settings can be found under account on the top right hand side of
your Facebook page.

4. See if any of your friends or colleagues are using Facebook, and add them as
‘friends’.

5. Search for and review some Facebook pages, such as ReachOut.com or
ReachOutPro.com.au

6. Share your experiences in the comments section of this part.

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Part 2 -
Twitter



What is it?
Twitter is a microblogging and information network used by individuals and organisations
to provide short updates to those connected to them, also known as “followers”. Updates
range in content and can only be up to 140 characters in length. Unlike other networking
sites, Twitter allows the user to communicate with a number of others who they may not
personally know. It is commonly used by celebrities to communicate with a large number
of fans or “followers”. The brief 140 character communique known as “tweets” can vary
from personal updates about mood or actions, to specific comments or alerts from an
organisation.

In addition to updates, a tweet can be directed at specific topics using the “#” or hashtag.
The hashtag can be used to highlight key words or topics. Clicking on a hashtagged word
will take you through to any other tweets on that topic.

If the tweet includes a username prefaced with the @ sign, the tweet will appear in the
user’s feed. For example, any @ReachOut_AUS tweets will appear on the ReachOut.com
Australia’s homepage.

How do young people use Twitter?
Twitter provides a platform for communicating to many people at once in a way that is
simple and instant. Most young people would use Twitter to express their current concerns,
moods, news or pleasant events. Young people may also choose to “follow” friends,
celebrities or organisations that they have an interest in.

“Following” on Twitter allows the user to receive the “tweets” or updates of others. Users
can also respond to tweets, either privately by adding Direct Message (d) to their tweet, or
publicly by adding an @username before their comment. This provides a social interaction
with those they follow.

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How would this add value to my work
with young people?
Having a Twitter account would allow you to follow organisations or individuals that are
relevant to your work, such as:

@ReachOut_AUS - updates from the ReachOut.com service for young people

@Inspire_AUS - updates from the Inspire Foundation, the organisation
behind ReachOut.com

@yawcrc – updates from the new Cooperative Research Centre for Young People,
Technology and Wellbeing

@BlossomProject - Supporting girls 16-25 with anxiety or depression to reach their full
potential

@headspace_aus - Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation

@ACYS_youthinfo - Updates on research & events relevant to the Youth Sector from the
Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies

Following a user’s tweets’ you can learn more about what events are coming up. You can
also use Twitter to seek more information. For example, you could gain information by
tweeting “@ReachOut_AUS This is really great information, do you have any more resources
to share?”
or
“@ReachOut_AUS that link about suicide made me realise my friend might be at risk. Is
there someone I can talk to?”

For “tweets” or users, that are more relevant to your work, you can search for hashtags i.e.
#mentalhealth

As an organisation you could use Twitter to provide short updates on news, events and
research to any individual or other organisation wanting to follow your account. Followers
might include young people currently associated with your practice, staff, or others who may
be interested in supporting your organisation.

Unless an individual or organisation sets up a locked profile, it is important to remember that
anyone can follow the account. There is no way of limiting this to a subset of individuals and
so the decision to tweet needs to be made with this in mind.

If considering using twitter to engage with young people, it may be useful to refer to part four
of this module in which we refer to a set of guidelines for establishing professional barriers
around the use of social media.

Exercise: Setting up your own
Twitter account
Twitter has published a great guide to help you get started on Twitter. This can be found
here (http://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics).

1. Set up your own Twitter account as per instructions above.
2. Have a go at “following” some of the accounts mentioned.
3. Share your experiences in the comments section of this module.

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Part 2 -
Yahoo! Answers



What is it?
Yahoo! Answers is an online forum where people can post, answer or browse questions on
any topic. Once posted, questions are open to be answered by anyone for up to 4 days. As
the person who posts the question, you can pick the best answer, or let the community vote
on the best answer. The person who provides the best answer is given points, which help
them to achieve levels - showing how active and reliable they are at answering questions
usefully.

How do young people use Yahoo!
Answers?
When young people have a question, the first place they will generally look for answers is
online. Yahoo! Answers often show up in search results, and many young people go straight
to the website to ask or browse questions. The voting system in Yahoo! Answers allows
them to get a variety of answers to a question, and see which answers are supported by
their peers online - helping them to cut through the clutter and get to an answer that will be
useful.

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with young people?
Using and reviewing the postings on Yahoo! Answers will help to give you a good
understanding of how young people search for information, and of the information they are
seeking. This can help you understand what you need to address in sessions with your
clients.

As part of your work with young people, you may also consider providing answers to young
people’s questions online via Yahoo! Answers. If you do choose to do this, it’s important to
be aware that your answer will be available to not only the person that posed the question,
but anyone else that searches for a similar topic. Many young people will search online for
answers long before they are comfortable talking to a professional.

It is also important to utilise professional judgement and only answer questions within your
areas of expertise and competency. Answer all questions with caution and ensure you
consider the impact of the information you are providing.

Exercise: Responding to Questions on
Yahoo! Answers.
You can watch a brief video tutorial of how to use the site here:
http://www.butterscotch.com/tutorial/How-To-Use-Yahoo-Answers

Note: You will need to sign in to do this exercise. If you have a Facebook, Yahoo! or Google
account you will be able to sign in by clicking the Sign In link at the top right hand corner
of the page. If you do not have an account, click the Sign Up link in the same corner of the
page.

1. Go to http://au.answers.yahoo.com.

2. Click the Answer button at the top of the page.

3. Under Categories select Health.

4. In the box above the questions listed, select Mental Health.

5. Have a go at answering some questions, and voting on answers provided by other
people.

6. Share your experiences in the comments section of this module.

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Part 2 -
Blog Sites



What is it?
Blogs are websites where one or many users publish articles and opinion pieces on a
regular basis, on a specific topic, or a range of topics. Personal, collaborative (multiple
authors) and organisational blogs all exist in the online sphere. Blogs can usually be
subscribed to via RSS so that followers get updates when they post an article.

How are young people using Blogs?
Blogs are used by people across many demographics, as a way of finding information in
an area of interest and engaging in discussion about it. As someone writing for a blog, it
provides a forum to post your articles around an area of interest or work. Quite often blogs
are used for emotional expression of difficulties or to gain support from a wider community
of peers. Other people’s blogs provide an excellent space to find information on a specific
topic, and to express opinions and facilitate discussion.

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with young people?
As a professional practitioner, blogs provide an accessible space to find, follow and
contribute to excellent sources of information about your profession. They provide a space in
which to engage both young people and other professionals in discussion. However, like any
source of information, if you are using blogs to inform your practice it’s important to assess
the source of information for its quality and usefulness.

In your work with young people, you might ask them if they follow any blogs and ask them to
show you, as a way of discovering more about their interests. Alternatively, they may have
their own blog on sites such as Tumblr. Such sites are a great source of information and
provide insight into the young person’s online persona.

A great place to start looking for blogs to read is Technorati - a search engine for finding
blogs & blog posts in your area of interest. Technorati also creates & posts original content
on a wide range of issues, written by member bloggers. The site also tracks & highlights
what is / isn’t popular among online blogs. Visit: http://www.technorati.com/

Potential blog sites to review include;

• Tumblr - http://www.tumblr.com/

• Wordpress - http://wordpress.org/

• Blogger – http://www.blogger.com/

Exercise: Getting to know blogs
If you wish to start experimenting with your own blog, Google have provided a step by step
guide to starting up a blog and posting your first article here:
http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=112498

1. Go to http://www.technorati.com/.

2. Search for posts or articles in an area of interest.

3. Spend some time reading the content on various blogs. See if you can identify one
that you would like to follow.


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Part 2 -
Flickr



What is it?
Flickr is a photo sharing network, where users can upload their photos, share them under a
variety of topics or categories, and share them with friends easily. You can also comment on
images and have conversations about them.

How are young people using Flickr?
• Sharing photos with friends quickly and easily

• Sharing photos with the public and creating professional portfolios

• Finding, sharing and discussing photos, out of general interest

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with young people?
As a professional practitioner, you can use images to find out more about a young person by
asking if they use Flickr and if they would be willing to show you some of their pictures. For
many young people, photography provides a form of expression, and Flickr provides a forum
for sharing that expression with others - thus it can be a valuable tool. The ability to discuss
images allows young people to get feedback from others - validating self-expression.

Because it is simple to upload videos from mobile phones using Flickr, it could also be used
as a way of sharing images of life events and problems as they happen, both helping the
young person to keep track, and providing a topic of discussion for the next support session.
Young people can upload the photos throughout the week and then discuss them in session
at their next appointment.

Exercise: Set up a Flickr account
1. Set up a Flickr account, by clicking the Sign Up button on the front page of the
website, or by following the steps in the video guide at
http://youtu.be/zzNf0n65ro0.

2. Browse some of the images online by using the search bar in the top right hand
corner of the screen. Observe how people discuss and contribute to photos.

3. Try uploading some of your own images, by clicking on the Upload link at the top of
the page, and following the site instructions.


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Part 2 -
YouTube



What is it?
YouTube is a video sharing website and social network. Via this site, you can upload
originally created videos with captions, and share them with friends & the public. YouTube
allows you to embed your video in other pages, allowing videos to be shared very easily on
websites, social networks, blogs etc. On these sites users can also create personal profiles
or channels for other people to find out more about them and follow their latest videos.

How are young people using YouTube?
Many people use Youtube or similar sites to simply share video with friends, colleagues
& the broader public. Because videos can be commented and voted on, they can get
feedback and approval from people around the world, and get recognition from it. Many
young people also post Vlogs [video-blogs], which are video updates where they talk about
their lives and things they care about.

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with young people?
Video allows for creative expression of stories to a broad range of people, in a way that
is much more accessible than text. Young people can create video content as a way of
expressing their stories, learning creative new skills, and getting positive feedback and
validation / recognition from their peers. For example, Reach Out TV provides space for
young people to upload and share their stories and personal contributions with their peers.
This provides valuable stories to connect with for young people who feel alone, as well as a
forum for self-expression. Asking the young person to show you videos that demonstrate how
they feel can be helpful for rapport building. Alternatively, using videos for psycho-education
can provide an alternative to traditional face to face methods.

Organisations and individuals use YouTube or similar sites to run creative video campaigns,
either as stand alone videos, or where people contribute their own videos. YouTube or Vimeo
can also be used for uploading videos for promoting your organisation and / or embedding in
your website.

Exercise: Learning to use YouTube
1. Check out some of the videos and stories at Reach Out TV
http://au.reachout.com/rotv.

2. Go to http://youtube.com/ and check out some of the videos, perhaps by
searching for a topic of interest in the search bar at the top of the page, or clicking
the Browse button next to the search bar to browse by category.


If your organisation does not allow access to YouTube, you may be able to access Vimeo
(http://www.vimeo.com/)

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Part 2 -
Serious Games



What is it?
A serious game is a term used to refer to software or hardware applications developed
with game technology but designed with the primary purpose of learning rather than pure
entertainment. In simple terms, it refers to technology-mediated learning.

Serious games are designed with the intention of improving some specific aspect of
learning and players come to serious games with that expectation. Serious games are used
in emergency services training, in military training, in corporate education, in health care
and in many other sectors of society. They can also be found at every level of education.

Why use it?
Serious games offer the same level of engagement that video games and other online
games offer, with the added benefit of developing life and coping skills. Games provide
a safe place for users to learn without being penalised or stigmatised. There is also low
physical risks to the user. It is a great way to try different approaches to reach people in a
safe, secure environment and to provide an alternative means of delivering a message and
building skills.

Serious games intended for health aim to prevent illness, promote healthy behaviours or
provide early intervention [3]. It is still a new and emerging area in research and practice
and it is only within the last decade that game development has taken off and effectiveness
evaluations conducted. However, there is growing evidence that serious games can lead to
positive outcomes for health and wellbeing by providing opportunities for engagement, skill
building and motivation for behavioural change [3-5].

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with young people?
Using a serious game may help engage young people who are reluctant to attend face to
face sessions or those that struggle with interviews. Alternatively, it provides a between
session activity to reinforce messages learned in session.

The serious game Reach Out Central (aka ROC – http://www.reachoutcentral.com.au/)
was developed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people, particularly
young men, by increasing their problem solving, help-seeking and communication skills. It
allows young people to explore how their thinking, behaviour and choices influence their
mental health. It is unique in being the only mental health serious game in Australia available
online [6].

There are numerous opportunities to use serious games to influence clinical outcomes for
young people. These can include:

• Making serious games such as Reach Out Central (www.reachoutcentral.com.au)
available to young people in waiting rooms or prior to their first session can help to
reduce anxiety and makes for a great conversation starter.

• For young people who are on a waiting list to see a clinician, using a serious game such
as ROC during that time can improve wellbeing, reducing the intensity and frequency of
intervention required face to face.

• During a consultation, a serious game can be used to break the ice, promote
engagement and facilitate conversation. Working side by side on a game can be less
confronting for some young people and can provide an opportunity for them to discuss
sensitive issues by externalising them temporarily to the characters in the game.

• Following a consultation, setting tasks in serious games as homework can provide an
opportunity for young people to practice the skills and strategies explored during the
sessions in a safe and anonymous environment.

• Finally for those young people leaving clinical care, serious games can be used to assist
in the maintenance of wellbeing. For example, games like ROC allow you to track
progress and improvement over time. This may signal to a young person when they
need to reconnect with face to face support or clinical care.

• You may have found serious games helpful in other ways. We’d love to hear your
stories below.

Exercise: Playing seriously
1. Visit www.reachoutcentral.com.au and enter as a guest.

2. Play the game, answering the prompt questions as a young person.

3. Having looked at the scenarios, come back and add your comments to this part
around how you can see this benefiting young people.

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What next?
Now that you have learned about common programs, sites and tools that young people use,
why not learn some more about how to integrate this into your work? Part 3 of this module
provides you with some guidance on how to build technology into your consultations with
young people while Part 4 helps you manage the professional issues that may arise.

1. Wikipedia. Facebook. 2011 [cited 2011 6th April, 2011]; Available from: http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook.

2. Lenhart, A. Teens, Cell Phones and Texting. 2010 [cited 2011 April 4th, 2011];
Available from: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1572/teens-cell-phones-text-messages.

3. Baranowski, T., et al., Playing for real: video games and stories for health-related
behavior change. Am J Prev Med, 2008. 34(1): p. 74-82.

4. UN News Centre. ‘Food Force’ video game sweeps northern Europe. 2007;
Available from: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22564.

5. Beale, I.L., et al., Improvement in cancer-related knowledge following use of a
psychoeducational video game for adolescents and young adults with cancer. J
Adolesc Health, 2007. 41(3): p. 263-70.

6. Burns, J.M., et al., Reach Out Central: a serious game designed to engage young
men to improve mental health and wellbeing. Med J Aust, 2010. 192(11 Suppl): p.
S27-30

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Part 2 - Notes

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