Pros & Cons of Minority Youth Using Mobile Technologies and Higher Rates

A good discussion here on NPR about the pros and cons of Latino & African American youth using mobile devices at a higher rate than any other ethnicities.

The Pros:
-A way to become engaged in the digital world even without a broadband connection/PC (this lack being more prevalent in lower income and minority communities)
-Experience with the latest digital tools

The Cons:
-Lack of monitoring and guidance by parents
-Lack of exposure to and expertise with online and PC-based tools which could be used for job skills

While the cons are obvious I think they are outweighed by the pros, particularly over the long term as everything goes mobile and home and wireline broadband becomes less important for skills enhancement and learning. And while the use of a PC/laptop is still highly desirable in the short term, having mobile connectivity is better than none at all - not to mention being more affordable.

For the stats on the use of mobile by Latino and other minority youth see this recent Pew report.