INTERNET USE AND ADOLESCENTS' SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

International audienceConfusion was brought both in the way knowledge is available and in the status of communication with others by Internet. The socialization of adolescents moves on a way of exchanges through media; short and frequent ties enabling them to establish their independence towards their family. The numerical culture fails to encounter the meaning of school facts. What are the effects of adolescents’ home Internet usage on homework ? We state the hypothesis that Internet modify the relation to knowledge and has an effect upon the pupil’s school mobilization. An exploratory research achieved by focus group and questionnaires concerning 63 secondary school I students (mean age: 12.7) enabled us to benefit from a description of the different uses (Internet activity and parenting style). The results (SPSS and contents analysis) underline that the communicative function of Internet is mainly used by youths to the prejudice of school investment (talks and hobbies: 71,3 % - cultural interest : 28,7 %). Moreover, with reference to Vygotski, Bion and Winnicott theories, the study questions the concept of “tutelage” and makes us wonder about the place of the adult (parent and teacher) in the learning process. Both school and parents involvement modify the way the adolescent uses Internet. The student followed by his teacher on Internet is more likely to invest the cultural function. Parents’ involvement is nearer the concept of control than support and has an effect upon the time spent by the adolescent on Internet so as to protect sufficient space for school work