I love the idea of the teen panel at Web 2.0. The only issue was that lots of people who were there said that the teens were holding back. Perhaps it was the venue or the lack of time or mediation, but almost everyone I've discussed that panel with said, "They held back. You could see it. They would look around the crowd, look at one another, then answer."

So, my friend Eran and I were chatting this afternoon and he came up with the idea to have a REAL teenage panel - one in a setting where they could just let it fly, tell us what they are REALLY thinking. Sure, it sounds a little like microscoping, but it would be as interesting as hell. We'd pay them in ringtones.

This is how I would do it:

1. Separate the boys from the girls at first. Let the guys talk to other guys 'mano-a-mano' and give the girls a totally safe space to tell it like it is. We'd want total honesty here.
   
   
2. Then bring them all together in the same room to keep talking as one panel.
   

What do I predict we would find out?

I think they would all want pretty much the same thing...just like Eran said over here. And Dave Winer said a while ago. Seriously. Ringtones, friends, community, recording our lives, blah blah blah. It all comes down to basic human needs...we'll see...

Tags: teenpanel, teen, web2con, web2.0, web1.0, web2.1, hubbahubba, web2.0isaboutgettinglaid

[photo credit: my shot...those are not teens, but they are the closest people I know to that teen panel..and they get what I'm laying down]