There is a certain age when children are not little kids anymore but are certainly not yet considered teenagers. This in-between age group is recognized as tweens. Tweens can also be known as a tweenager. More specifically a tween is a child between the ages of eight and 12. A tweenager is a more specific age group consisting of 10 to 12 year olds. The term tween came into pop culture to define kids that are in that awkward middle ground between pre-puberty and puberty. Tweens are at the stage when they would like to be treated more like adults. They start becoming more independent and develop stronger bonds with their friends. Kids at this age group are discovering their desires and dreams and forming their own personal identities.
In the past several years, tweens have become a huge market for advertisements and also media. The reason for this is because more and more are interested in teenager activities and subject areas that teenagers find popular. Tweens are looking to shed their childish interests and act slightly older. Companies have become more conscious precisely how they are marketing because they want to keep it appropriate for adolescence. Justin Bieber along with the Twilight Saga are a couple examples of tween obsessions. Both are targeting to a younger audience and both offer age appropriate content.
Tweens are not only interested in music or movies, they are also interest in keeping in touch with friends. Not in the way that parents are used to. Rather than going to a friends house or calling friends, kids can connect though instant messaging, text messaging, and using other varieties of social media. One particular type of social media is Facebook, which was launched in 2004. When Facebook first began it only targeted students in college. Then it allowed kids in high school and later became available to everyone. Tweens have jumped on this craze which may or may not be a good thing.
There is a lot of content on social networking websites that involves vulgar jokes, explicit language, and sexual photographs and videos. Even though content on these sites are probably not appropriate for pre-teens, it is not something that can get stopped without banning the site. Even if there happens to be a ban there is no way to control kids that fake their age. Tweens should be able to express themselves and contact their friends via social networking but it has to be on a safe web site. There are many sites that offer a social networking site for tweens which are frequently monitored by managers and parents. KidsSocialNetwork.com is a social networking site for tweens that allows police to monitor their site.
Social networking web sites have been around for a few years and their popularity has only grown throught the years. Even though it may be scary to allow kids to create online profiles or connect with friends online, there are many tools on the internet to keep kids safe. A lock down browser may be installed to keep kids and tweens from wandering across something inappropriate. Although tweens are interested in grown up forms of media, there are many products which are appropriate that tweens can still enjoy.
