Social Networking

[Alison McCarthy]

Further Resources

 

This article provides a perspective for parents of social networkers— http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/familydevelopment/00144.pdf

 

This website includes links to social media pages for actual libraries and library organizations under "best practices"—http://ipl.ci.fsu.edu/community/wiki/index.php/Social_Networking

 

Questions

 

1.  "Teens are particularly drawn to social technology because it meets many of their socialization needs.  Young people talk about being unique and different from others, but at the same time they seek affirmation from their friends...Young people want to be involved with the world beyond the local community...they want to feel part of what is happening in the world" (Lamb and Johnson, 2006, p. 55).

 

The above quote describes three needs of teenagers that social networking fulfills: the need to assert one's identity, the need to belong, and the need to be an active part of the world.  Yet, teens are not the only or most prevalent users of various kinds of social media.  Do you think these needs are unique to teens or more universal to all human beings?  What other needs does social networking fulfill for teens and/or other demographics?  If social networking does fulfill people's needs, does it do so in a different way than traditional kinds of socializing (i.e. talking face to face, on the phone, or at social gatherings)?

 

2.  You must justify to your administrator(s) that the use of social media is beneficial in an educational setting.  What is the most important, powerful, and demonstrable reason you can give them?  Conversely if you disagree that it is beneficial, give the most important, powerful, and demonstrable reason against social media in an educational setting.

 

References

 

Lamb, Annette and Johnson, Larry. (2006). Would You be my Friend: What You Need to Know About Social Technologies. Teacher Librarian, 34(1), pp. 55-57. This article delves into the various reasons that social media attracts students and how educators and students can work together to use it more responsibly.

[Christopher Bowlin]

The needs to assert one’s identity, belong and be an active part of the world doesn’t end with the teenage years, though it is probably at its highest point for the majority of the human population during those years. As youngsters are trying to discover themselves, social networking is a way to reach beyond the immediate sphere of individuals to discover something that might be beyond their conventional reach: Social networking widens the pool of possibility, and this allows for more interests and aspects to be discovered and explored. It also has the makings of a standard social relationship, only digital. A profile can serve as a canvas to display one’s individuality in all its colors and dimensions, as well as celebrate connections of like-mindedness. A profile can be seen as a calling card to attract other like-minded individuals, especially for those with marginal interests. There is a greater anonymity that comes with meeting others this way, so it does differ significantly to meeting someone face to face, though some relationships can be forged and nurtured in a unique way that might not happen in school or at the mall. Other age demographics, in particular adults, might find a network of similar professionals or use their social media outlets as a showcase for their professional endeavors. They might also collaborate professionally or join a group for a hobby or interest. Distance can be overcome so friend circles can share their photos and videos, and even extended family can be kept in the loop with pictures and status updates.

The most compelling reason to allow social media in an educational setting is to encourage collaboration and give a voice to students who might otherwise be timid in a live, face-to-face group discussion or collaborative effort. It is important to recognize that collaboration is one of the most difficult undertakings and also one of life’s most important skills. By harnessing the interest that teenagers have for social networking, these collaborative skills can be more thoroughly explored in an engaged environment that students see as relevant to them.

[Alison McCarthy]

You are the first to mention using social media in an educational setting in order to let students who wouldn't normally communicate to do so. This seems to me to be one of the more creative and important reasons because technology would literally be giving a voice to someone who wouldn't normally have one. I don't know how much more useful and powerful a reason there could be.

I also agree with and like your analogy of a profile to a calling card for one's personality. I think that capability is one distinct way in which social media separates itself from traditional communication methods and goes beyond mere communication to identity formation.

[Stephanie Kosmerl]

We talked about this last week in the discussion about blogs and I really think it is important to provide students with different ways to add to the discussion. Some teachers may think that students who do not participate in class discussions just do not care, but shyness and social anxiety can be so bad that talking in class can be excruciating. Using social networking/media in a classroom setting can allow these students to add their comments without feeling too anxious. Also, I think that there are things that people (even those who do not have problems speaking in class) will say on a social media site that they will not say in a classroom setting. This could begin an interesting conversation that would not happen traditionally.

[D. Dubach]

Stephanie, I agree that classroom shyness and social anxiety can be difficult to overcome, and that social networking/media can be an attractive way to enable students to engage in discussion with minimal self-conscientiousness. From my experience teaching 9th grade physical science, I recall one tall, lanky girl with braces and a bad complexion who was completely withdrawn. She blossomed and relaxed in our brief one-on-one talks after class, but visibly wilted under the scalding remarks and teasing of classmates. I think having a capability to express herself without anyone having an awareness of, or judging her by appearance would have been empowering, and would have allowed her to gain confidence and self-esteem...which I believe is an important component in receiving an education.

[April Steenburgh]

I am honestly much more active in discussions, and comfortably so, when participating in the online format as opposed to in class. In class, I almost felt I was interrupting when I had something to say/add, where when moved to an online format I feel I am adding to the discussion without interrupting or breaking the flow of the discussion. There is enough of a difference in ease of contribution that I feel using social media really does provide a phenomenal way to engage everyone. I am not particularly 'shy', but traditional lecture formats only provide short windows of opportunity to contribute, and those aren't always at the convenience of the learner.

[Tanya]

I found myself thinking of the same thing someone mentioned when answering questions in lecture. Classroom participation grade usually was average for me unless the teacher made me feel comfortable to voice my views.

[Stephanie Kosmerl]

Question 1: I do not think that these needs are unique to teens. Human beings are social creatures who want communication, affirmation, and involvement. Social networking is simply a new way to achieve those things. It is one of the primary ways teens communicate because it is so readily available, particularly with Facebook mobile sending updates straight to their phones. It allows teens to connect to each others’ lives in ways that may not be possible in school.

Social networking fulfills various needs for all of its users. It serves as a window into people’s lives. It can act as a portfolio or gallery of one’s work. It connects people with businesses and other entities in ways that have not been done before. People can join groups, “like” people and products, and attend events without walking away from the computer. It is not like talking on the phone, face to face, or communicating in a letter. Social networking allows for immediate reactions but is not necessarily synchronous.

Despite the fact that it is labeled as social networking, I really do not think that teens think of it in terms of networking. They see it as a traditional way of socializing since they are digital natives and it is something they have grown up with. For others, digital immigrants, it may not seem like a traditional way of socializing. It may take some time for digital immigrants to become comfortable using social networking tools. It seems as though, while digital natives have friends on social networking sites that they have never met, digital immigrants want more of a connection with the people they communicate with through social networking.

Question 2: I think that the powerful reason to use social media in an educational setting is that it has already captured the students’ interest and is very prevalent in their lives. If we as educators ignore social media we will be losing a valuable opportunity to connect with students. Using it in the classroom will allow us to teach students how to communicate (for those shy students who have trouble in class discussions), protect themselves (privacy settings, proper use), and use social media to their benefit.

[April Steenburgh]

"I really do not think that teens think of it in terms of networking. They see it as a traditional way of socializing since they are digital natives and it is something they have grown up with."

It is amusing, we have all these technical terms for things, and the folks who grew up with them consider them natural enough that they don't bear that significant designation. It isn't networking, it is keeping in touch with friends, planning where they are going after work, over the weekend. It is stuff that has always been there.

Much of the technology use we discuss in this class revolves around the POV of one generation trying to utilize things that another has internalized. It gives every discussion a neat sort of perspective if you think about it.

[Alison McCarthy]

Your point about how digital natives view web 2.0 technology as just a natural way they communicate is insightful. I would make the analogy that web 2.0 technology is like an extension of their being because they use it so easily and natually. Even students who have no computer or resources at home find ways of manipulating social media to their benefit.

[D. Dubach]

Alison, I would add that today's digital natives may very well have the ability to continue to readily adapt to changing technologies, since they are growing up at a time when naturally integrating new technology is a way of life. In time, as Web 2.0 technologies lead to Web 3.0 technologies, today's digital natives may have the intrinsic advantage of keeping apace of change because they have grown up doing it.

[Tanya]

You hit that on the head! My primary motive to sign up for Facebook was to find lost friends and family and that I did. One downside of the Internet are for those that want to pretend they are older. Recently, my younger cousin signed up for Facebook and claimed to be 14 seeking romance. I was tickled at first until I heard some of the rap songs he had posted. Let's just say I don't like gangsta rap (#$*@(!)). His grandmother and I talked about it and oddly enough she didn't want to tell her daughter what he was doing. I fired off an email to let him know to calm down on the vulgarity. His reply was block me! For those that think teenagers or "tweens" do not know how to navigate on the Internet they are in for a rude awakening!

[Courtney Jeffries]

This article (PDF) specifically looks at uses for Facebook and age demographics, and it suggested a few other uses not mentioned here that people may have for Facebook, including social investigation and status updating.

Another study on age and use of social network sites, reveals how different types of social network sites (SNSs) cater to different age groups and uses. LinkedIn, in particular, is cited as a SNS that has an older following (about 35-54 yr) since its main purpose is for job seekers and recruiters.

Continuing with the example of LinkedIn, I'd say that particular SNS does not necessarily change the way we communicate about jobs or our employment needs. For ages, people have been getting jobs because of their loose connections (i.e., friend of a friend's friend). LinkedIn makes the process more efficient and extends the reach of a single user's network by allowing for even more remote loose connections.