16-Year-Old Internet Mogul

Aug. 2, 2001 -- Someone has finally figured out what teenagers want.

In between doing her schoolwork and hanging out with friends, 16-year-old Ashley Power runs an Internet site called Goosehead.com, where hundreds of thousands of teenagers go to talk about everything from pimples to the pain they try to hide when their parents divorce.

"People can relate to it," says Power, who has 30 people — including her parents — working for her. The Web site features a show called "Whatever," with Power playing her alter ego Skye in a series that captures the minutia of a teen's everyday life.

In the last few months, she has shot a pilot for a network TV show and has also finished writing a new book called The Goosehead Guide to Life.

A Powers Chat

Power joined ABCNEWS.com for a live chat. Here are some edited highlights:

Q: How did you come up with the idea for Goosehead.com?A: I had a really bad year, 8th grade year, and I was on the Internet a lot, and I decided to create my own Web site. I used HTML for Dummies and started building goosehead.com.

Q: What's it like having your mom, dad and a team of 30 people call you "boss?"A: We all kind of really work together. It's not like I boss everyone around;we're like a family. It is extremely overwhelming at times,but it is a lot of fun! I really enjoy it.

Q: How did people find out about your site?A: Word of mouth — that was the first way. And I made relationships with many Web masters,and they taught me how to manipulate the algorithms and the metatags to get my site at the topof the search engines.

Q: What is your advice for teens who want to start their own business?A: Just be strong and have your goal and your dreams and work hard at them. And don't listen when they tell you that you can't do it, because I heard "no" a lot, and I just kept going until I heard "yes." It doesn't matter how old you are, or if you're a girl, or a guy, or if you're in school or not. If you want to do it, you can! Just keep going until you hear "yes"!

Q: What did you do to stay on top of the good feelings in life, when you were in the eighth grade? A: That was the worst year ever! I never cried at school; I would suck it all up at school and act like I didn't care.And I would rely on people who were my close friends,and talked to my family. I spent a lot of time on the Internet, with my friends there and with the friends who I had before. I laugh about it now,but it was really hell when I was living in it.But, it made me a stronger person.

Q: Where do you get your confidence? You look so confident.A: I'm motivated because I hope that I can help other teenagers because I know that I needed help, so I hope I can help. I think I get my confidence because when I was younger, I went to a small school, and really figured out who I was and always kept that in mind, and then I didn't have to be someone else.

Q: Why is your show called "Whatever?" And why do you think it's so popular? A: The name "Whatever" is because I say it a lot and it drives my parents insane!They hate it! It bugs them, so it seemed fitting; it's something that teens can relate to.So now when you watch the show, you begin to notice how often you say"whatever." I think it's become so popular, hopefully, because people can relate to itand because it's real and we're not trying to hide anything.

Q: Is this the career your had anticipated as a child? Being famous and owning your own company?A: Yeah, this is what I was saying when I was coming out of my mom's belly!I'm gonna have a Web site and I shall name it goosehead.com! I'm just kidding.I never anticipated this.

Q: Do you feel this new experience with your Web site and prospective television show will negatively influence your ability to provide a realistic approach to young adults?A: I'm still the same kooky 15-year-old nerd that I was. [Powers was 15 at the time of the chat.] I think I'm going to stay the same person.This hasn't changed me. If anything, it's given me a work ethic,and a better sense of priorities, but it hasn't really changed who I am orwho I'm destined to be. But there will come a time when I willbe too old, I think, to really grasp and really know the teen audience,and at that point I'd pass on that job to some other teen that I'd find,because I do want it to remain real. But, with the show, I'm living it right now.I'm in the middle of high school, I go through the drama, and there's no show, no successful Web site,that can change the high school dramas, and there's no way I can avoid them,even though I'd like to.

Q: If this show thing doesn't work out, what are some of the other things you would do outside of TV? A: I have lots of movie ideas, and I'd also like to direct. But outside of entertainment and the Web site,I don't know, there's a lot of stuff I could do. I used to want to be a painter, and a singer, which is hilarious.I like writing and psychology as well, so those could be options.

Q: Are you going to include minority characters in your scripts? A: Oh, of course! Absolutely! The show wouldn't be real if we didn't!I was actually working on a story idea last night that involves someone that we might add to ourmain characters that is gay, and I have no problem with that, whatsoever. I have lots of different friends anddifferent people in my life, so of course, I will not exclude any one or any type of person.

Q: Do you feel that teenagers in general today are less aware of political issues and world affairs? Do youfeel egocentrism around American culture has taken over?

A: Usually, if someone brings up politics, everyone tells them that they're boring. But I'm interested. I'm trying to listen and learn, because it's our country. But, by the same token, I think that when you're in high school, you feel like you have much bigger things to worry about. That's just the way we are. Even though we all know in our hearts that finding a homecoming date is not as important as who runs our country.But, at that time, it's like a life or death situation. As for egocentrism, I don't really see that. I think it's been around forever. I feel that people at times might not even give us, the teenagers, credit becausemy friends and I are very intelligent and aware of things going on in the world and I thinksometimes adults just blow that off and say we're kids and we don't know, whenin actuality that's not true, in my opinion.

Q: Do you believe that "Whatever" contributes to materialism and teenage obsessions?A: What are you talking about? How does "Whatever" contribute to materialism? Have you watchedthe show? When do we dedicate 10 minutes to Ashley's outfit for a date, and if we do, then you know what? It must be a very important date! C'mon, what teenager doesn't care what they look like?

Q: What do you do in your spare time? A: Talk on the phone, which makes my parents crazy! Hang out with my friends. Ask out guys that I like, for them to turn me down. All wonderful things that fill my free hours, which are quite rare nowadays, anyway. I also like listening to music, writing, singing and going to the gym.

Q: Do you see the Internet taking over TV as we know it today?A: I think it's possible. But I went to a conference once and a guy spoke on this panel and he made a really good point: He said that not everyone is talented. So, it actually takes a little bit of creativity to develop good shows. Basically, what that means is that just because you put a show up on the Internet doesn't mean it will compete with Friends. The quality of your show on the Internet has to be so good that it has to make someone want to go to their computer, turn it on, log on, and download it.

Q: Are you afraid that other people will try developing sites like yours, and maybe take away from what you started?

A: Not really. I just focus on what I'm doing and don't really worry about what someone else is doing. More power to them if they take away from us. I mean, there's nothing I can't do. So I just focus on being the best that I can be and don't really look back at who I'm racing, because I think that at the end of the race you're only racing yourself.

Q: How do you plan to continue this as you get older and possibly attend college? Do you see the site growing with you or remaining at the high school level to help that age group?

A: Definitely remaining at the high school level, definitely. I feel there is a need there. As I said before, when I do go to college, someone else will take my place to bring in new, cool ideas although I will always play a big role in the company, because it's like my baby.

Q: How do you think your site best benefits teens? A: Giving them a place to hang, a place to be themselves, to have a good time, have fun, laugh, and just a place they can relate to. I think everything on the Web site contributes to all those things.

Q: What do you think have been the effects of your Internet fame?

A: See, I don't even think I'm famous. My stepdad tells me to have fun now while I can, before things get crazy. And I know that with increasing "fame" there's some stuff you can't do because everyone's watching. That's something that I notice a lot —everyone's watching and critiquing, which can be hard. But the good things, the positive side, is that this is an amazing opportunity and will open doors that may have seemed unreachable.

Q: Any final thoughts? A: Have fun, Diet Coke and lime is the best ever, so try it, all of you! Follow your dreams. Dance like no one's looking! Thanks for having me, I had fun! I will see you all in the goosehead chat room!