Essentials

From the WTF Files...the latest danger of technology is supposedly "smartphone face," which people get from leaning forward and staring at their phones too much. Plastic surgeons say the "syndrome" is recognizable by an elongated face, sagging jowels, and lines that run from the corner of the mouth to the chin. (The Week)

The first batch of nominees for the Teen Choice Awards 2012 are in and "Vampire Diaries" leads the way with 6 nods, followed by the Biebs and "American Idol" with 5 noms each. But we're most excited about the newest categories: Choice Book and Choice Electronic Dance Music Artist. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Social media is becoming increasingly important in the job search and hiring process; more than 50% of companies look at potential hires' profiles to see if they are a good fit with the company's culture. Moreover, nearly 80% of college students are OK with companies contacting them directly on social media. (All Twitter)

Here's more proof that Pinterest is an essential platform for brands: according to Shopify, users are buying products they pin and spending $80 on an average purchase, which is double that of a purchase from a Facebook user. (Fast Company)

We're glad to hear that fewer teens and young adults are smoking today, which is partially attributed to an increase in cigarette taxes. Daily smoking dropped to 16% among 18-25 year olds in 2010, yet one in 12 adolescents still smoke as do one in three young adults. (Bloomberg)

Millennials want the latest technology so what are they doing with all their old, perfectly good gadgets? Giving them to their parents and older members of their family, hence the name hand-me-ups. Buzz Marketing Group is noticing this trend where Gen Y is teaching and supplying older adults with tech, as well as tech-savvy skills. (Huff Po)

It's no surprise that 76% of young voters say that jobs and unemployment are the top issues that concern them. Moreover, less than half of 18-29 year olds who are registered to vote say they'll definitely do so in the upcoming election. (Best Colleges Online)

Facebook's IPO was finally revealed at $38 per share! The price sets a total value for Facebook at $104 billion, meaning it has greater worth than any other U.S. company at its stock market debut. (CNN)

The CW is expanding its web presence with The CW Digital Studio, a platform for original online content including animation, game shows, comedy, and more that will be available on CWTV.com. Stay tuned for a roundup on the Upfronts next week and insights about which TV shows will likely attract Millennials. (The Wrap)

Three-quarters of parents consider tablets beneficial to kids and an equal percentage feel they help foster creativty. Moreover, more than a quarter have downloaded apps for their children according to this helpful infographic. (Mashable)

#Linning: Why Jeremy Lin Scores High Among Millennials

Today’s post comes to us from Matt, a Youth Advisory Board member who shares his thoughts on…

The Shift To Streaming Happens At Age 18

Millennials are used to getting what they want when they want it. They can get immediate answers to…

The Interest in Pinterest: A Millennial’s Perspective

Today’s post comes to us from Laura, a Youth Advisory Board member who is active on Pinterest…

Internet Piracy, SOPA, Megaupload, And What It Means To Millennials

The past week had a huge impact on young, media-savvy Millennials, because of the war waging among Internet…

Counting Down To 2012, One Trend At A Time: Twitter Takes Over

We follow youth culture and media trends closely throughout the year, and we’re seeing some significant shifts…

Marketers Are Still Using Facebook Wrong

Yet another brand sent me an email this week telling me that if I like it on Facebook,…

Social Bookmarking And Curation: Pinterest, Pearltrees, GimmeBar

The Web has gotten so big and so social that regular bookmarking has become practically useless. We needed…

Cyber Smart: Kids' Online Lives And Digital Safety

During the Children’s Advertising Review Unit conference earlier this month, we had the pleasure of meeting…

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