How Do You Do, Fellow Gen Z Searchers?

So earlier today I read this Business Insider article, and it set me to thinking.

Wondering, of course, if the youths really were using Instagram and Tik Tok for their searches. And whether what I was reading was even being reported accurately. Because "searches" seems an awfully broad category. What, exactly, are they searching for? I joked on Facebook that if Gen Z is using Tik Tok and Instagram for their searches -- read, research -- it might explain why I'm getting some of the odd results I'm seeing in my online English class.

But "searches" doesn't necessarily mean "research," so I thought I'd better keep reading. And asking questions.

I'm asking my students this question: Where are you finding the information you use in class? Are you using social media for your searches? And these are probably not even the right questions at this point, but I'm intrigued, particularly after I read this TechCrunch article to which Business Insider linked, and one phrase used in a KSL Radio report on the information as well: visual searches. That right there made me reconsider the Boomer "the sky is falling because the youths don't know how to research anymore" knee-jerk the news first inspired in me.

I suspect the divergence or disconnect isn't as broad as I initially thought.

I shared the following with my online students today:

Students, I stumbled across this article (Links to an external site.) today and wanted to ask you about it.

I am trying to come into this potential conversation without judgment, yet at 50 years old I'll admit this is how it feels on the outset:

I'm curious. Do you use any form of social media in your research? What are you finding there?

I'm not old school enough to believe that encyclopedias are the be-all and end-all of research; I didn't much like using them as a kid in those dinosaur-riding, pre-internet days. But since we had a set at home and they meant I could at least start on things without a trip to the library, I used them a lot.

But the Internet, clearly, has opened up countless avenues where information -- both good and bad -- can be presented for consumption. And that's a great and wonderful blessing.

So, help an old guy out, and without any judgment from me at all because I'm curious to know what's out there: Where are you going to find what you need? And don't respond like you think you should in an English class. I don't care about getting "correct and proper" responses that a snooty old English teacher wants to hear. I want to hear what you're doing, so I can find a pry-bar to open my mind again and see the possibilities.

People of my age and older (and maybe some younger) seem to think a lot of what's presented on the Internet is a joke or inaccurate or in no way relevant to anything "serious." Prove that wrong. I'm sure there are wonderfully intelligent people out there showing marvelous things on social media. Help me see it.

I'll share something:

I consider myself to be handy around the house, but there are some realms I don't care to wander into very much. One of them is auto repair or general tinkering. Earlier this summer, my 2015 Honda Pilot wouldn't start. I surmised I had a bad starter, but was intimidated by replacing the unit. The car sat in our driveway for three weeks until I finally . . . called a tow truck and had them take it to the mechanic to fix. Best $89 I spent so far this year, and that was just for the tow.

But then my air conditioning started making an odd "whump" sound and was not producing enough cool air for my liking. I turned to the Internet and discovered the symptoms described could be attributed to a dirty cabin air filter. I also discovered that while the filter only costs about $24, getting one professionally installed would cost another hundred dollars.

So I found this video:

The idea of doing all of this work was intimidating. But when I was at the auto parts store getting an engine air filter, I also picked up a cabin air filter. And then . . . I followed the video instructions and replaced the filter myself. And the symptoms went away and I have to wear a coat in my car now when the AC is running.

So pry open my mind a bit: How are you using social media (and YouTube counts) for research?

Sofar, one response, not outside the realm of what I expected:

While I don't actually have Instagram or Tik-Tok (it is definitely a choice not to use those), I do have and use YouTube a lot. I don't use it in the way the article suggests though and I could never see myself looking up places to eat on it or anything like that. However, I do frequently use Pinterest to find recipes and other inspiration instead of searching on Google. Like you, I will look up tutorials on social media sites and they are often helpful. However, I will just as often google tutorials as well. I also use YouTube both in and out of school settings. There are tons of channels that are helpful for research and I have had several courses here at BYU-I that use YouTube links to teach me as well. The other cool thing about these channels is that many have started using YouTube shorts. Like it sounds, they're short videos similar to Tik-Tok. I can see people searching the way the article describes, however, by choice, I do not act like most kids in my generation. Google is still the go-to place for me.

There are definite times when a visual result is highly valued. The filter I used in my example came with installation instructions, but they paled in comparison to the YouTube video I found that inspired me to actually do the work (I looked at the instructions only after the work was done).

So this may not be as revelatory as I initially thought, but it's still an interesting avenue of exploration. It all goes back to something David Hailey taught when I was working on my masters degree: We can't anticipate from where internet users will find the information we present on the internet, nor should we assume that they'll use the information we present in the way we intend. I'm going to keep asking these questions and refining them to see what I can come up with, and maybe use the knowledge to help me become a better English teacher.