"If you're not on MySpace, you don't exist."
These words came from an 18 year old young woman who's sense of reality includes friends habitating the vast collective of cyberspace.
The internet site "MySpace" is a tool for expression and experimentation as documented by Boyd in the article "Why Youth (heart) Social Network Sites." Social networking is technology that's changing society by providing today's youth with an audience never before offered so easily or cheaply. When we talk about changes within society - we mean rapid changes; the kind that occur quickly from one generation to the next. I am a father with a teenage daughter. Between the both of us, online social networking has two different meanings and, more importantly, two very different "pulls."
1. I think that
I think that within social networks there are infinite number of levels of communicative options and an equally infinite number of communicative audiences. Teenagers who use the technology must quickly learn how to navigate and control the great and far-reaching power of communication through manipulation of accessibility features. (pages 123-126)
2. I see that
I see that the users learn about “audiences” and manipulate the “boundaries of audience” through the MySpace tools.
3. I feel that
The generation gap perceives social networking differently. Parents view mass media as “viewers” with little or no control over content (control may mean switching from watching the news to their favorite TV program). Teenagers view mass media as “participants” with greater control over content (control may mean authoring a MySpace page or posting comments on other public pages). The differences occur due to changes of media technology (TV versus computer) which in turn affect the social/cultural dependence upon these technologies.
Teens listen to their friends more than their parents. Well, thanks to cites like MySpace, that group just got a little bit bigger...
Hi Kevin....Abe with a boom box...way cool! :-
ReplyDeleteLike you, I was impressed with the generational gap between parents vs. children. Could it be closed by the school link? Do you think there is a place for the use of Social Networkinging Sites in grade school systems?
Thalia,
ReplyDeleteIn light of all of what we have read about social networking and youth, I do not see it as a critical technology for K-12 education. Perhaps this is due to the increased emphasis on standards and accountability in America. How can a teacher harness SNS to teach a subject "better" than with the tools and resources currently available?
Social networking will continue to be popular with youth for various other reasons besides learning math, science, literature and so forth. So, for the present it is serving that need.