Enfances, Familles, Générations (Dec 2018)
Le « divertissement connecté » au sein du foyer : une enquête auprès des jeunes Québécois
Abstract
Framework: The Internet constitutes one of the most popular means through which youth watch audiovisual entertainment content (such as movies, series, YouTube videos). Objectives : This article presents the results of a study on online audiovisual content viewing practices by young Quebecers aged 12 to 25 and examines how these practices relate to family life. Methodology : The strategy used is based on a mixed method approach combining both qualitative data (14 focus groups of 82 participants and 29 individual interviews) and quantitative data (survey questionnaire composed of 1500 young Quebecers aged 12 to 25 years). Results : The results reveal that youth viewing practices are strongly individualized. They also show an increase in youth autonomy with respect to the types of contents watched and the viewing times. These online practices offer opportunities for sharing and expressing family ties, going as far as contributing to the development of specific family viewing rituals and practices. Conclusions : If the family is the first place in which young people are socialized to television, it also plays a role in the development of online audiovisual viewing practices. In return, these digital practices appear to contribute to autonomy acquisition among young people, including the younger ones. Contribution : By bringing new knowledge about connected entertainment among young people and its place in family life, the article makes visible the social and scientific relevance of research on the social uses of technology among young people.
