Social Media and the Classroom
While working my way through the readings of module four, I found a article that spoke to me on many levels. Dana Boyd’s Why Youth Heart Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life. After taking a look at the date and reading the breakdown of the study she performed, I felt that even as an article written eight years ago, the research is not indicative of youth today. Boyd suggests that youth who do not use social media sites come to this decision for several reasons, “…obedient teens who have respected or agree with their parents’ moral or safety concerns, marginalized teens who feel that social network sites are for the cool kids, and other teens who feel as though they are too cool for these sites” (Boyd, 2007). Boyd goes on to explain that even those who denied having involvement on the sites, had an opinion about them, displaying the immense population of social media in teenage culture. Now, Boyd only used one social media site, My Space, as a focus for her study. She points out only 65% of the students she interviewed were using social media, and many are likely staying connected through another site entirely. In the study the topic of gender is discussed, specifically who is using the social media sites more. This statistic jumped out at me, “Older boys are twice as likely to use the sites to flirt and slightly more likely to use the sites to meet new people than girls of their age” (Boyd, 2007). It is this type of statistic that makes educators push for social media awareness lessons and internet safety classes. Boyd delves into the specifics it takes to develop a social media account and what is involved. Finally, most importantly I feel, she discusses the concept of social cues and how they are an entirely different entity on the internet. “While no one is ever a true master of impression management, the teenage years are ripe with opportunities to develop these skills,”(Boyd, 2007) and given the amount of time spent socializing on social media sites, teenagers should realize the difference in interacting online as opposed to interacting in person. So, how do these statistic affect teaching and learning?
As a high school and elementary school teacher, I have found that many students use social media as a means of developing their own individuality, possibly as a way of finding themselves in their awkward teenage years. After reading this research paper and the outcome of the study, I think what is important is educating our youth on the implications of having themselves on a possibly public social media site. At a young age students are introduced to the internet and more than likely, social media. I have met nine year olds with Instagram accounts, and ten year olds who have cell phones they use to text their friends. The danger in this, depending on the level of education they have received about the dangers of social media at home, is who can view and contact them online. As mentioned before the statistic about male youth taking to the internet to flirt is something that makes me nervous for the nine year old with the Instagram account. While one would hope the parents are aware, it is about educating that student on how to behave appropriately online. It seems akin to the “don’t talk to strangers” rule when kids are little.
That being said I think the use of social media in the classroom is a great tool. It can be used for learning new ideas or subjects, whether it is through a #hashtag or using a group on Facebook. Introducing the sites in the classroom at a young age can allow teachers to now only give students a new platform for learning, but simultaneously discuss the dangers of having their own social media account.
References:
Boyd, D. (2009). Why youth (heart) social network sites: The role of networked publics in teenage social life. In Buckingham, David. Youth, Identity, and Digital Media. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Media and Learning. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. pp. 119–142.
I enjoyed reading your post. I agree that social media is a place where people, particularly youth, experiment with and find identity. As Boyd (2007) pointed out youth are under adult supervision and control in most aspects of their lives. The internet however, offers youth a place where they can express themselves with no or little mediation from adults. The problem where I see it is that the internet is inherently an unsafe place for people. Social interactions in the real world are real world are rather ethereal: They occur and then no longer exist except for in the memories of those who are present. On line however, social interactions must be considered to be permanent. Once something is posted, anyone who has access to that is able to copy, change and use it.
I think that you are correct when you mention that education is the only way forward. Young people will look to the internet for identity and if well meaning adults try to prevent this, teens will find ways to be secretive. One example in Boyd (2007) was the case of the the teen who made a fake account where she posted things that she knew her parents would be upset about while she maintained a ‘parent friendly’ account.
Another issue that this article does not touch upon, possible because the article was written in 2007, is that more and more young people use personal devices to access social networking apps. These can be particularly dangerous because they are often anonymous and rely heavily on a device’s location services.
James.
Thanks for your post, I think social media in and out of the classroom is a very important topic. The internet has changed in the ways we locate and access information, communicate with, and learn from each other. We define social networking technology as tools that facilitate collective intelligence through social negotiation when participants are engaged in a common goal or a shared practice. When it comes to social media and youth, I really believe in focusing on the positive. This does not mean that I think we should ignore the dangers of the internet in terms of safety or privacy, or the long term consequences of an inappropriate post, or something else of a similar nature. I am very glad your post was not talking about banning these tools – while there are dangers and disadvantages, I believe, as James suggested, making social media the “bad guy” will only make those things worse. I think it is our job as educators to show students a different, positive way to use social media and to help them create positive digital footprints. There are endless possibilities with the educational technologies you can use in your class. The use of social media is not without its problems; some are concerned with the time it requires (keeping up with all the changes.) There are also concerns around privacy, integrity, and safety. In spite of those concerns, however social media can be a valuable tool for teaching, and for collaborative learning. These tools can foster interaction, collaboration, and contribution. Social networking technology also presents the opportunity for learners to reflect on their ideas, organize resources, provide evaluative feedback to others, and build communities of knowledge. I believe we need to embrace the positives these tools have to offer and educate about there negatives.
Caitlin
I completely agree. Social media today has become so intertwined into our society that it is a daily part of a majority of people’s everyday lives. With such heavy usage it has become virtually impossible to impose age limits on these sites. A report from the BBC indicated that 43% of children 9 to 12 claimed they maintained a social network profile while 88% of children 13 to 16 made that same claim. With such numbers imposing ‘age restrictions’ has proved mostly futile (BBC 2011). To make the situation more concerning a report by the FBI claimed that 1 out of 7 children between the ages of 12 and 17 had been sexually solicited online (FBI 2014). With these statistics it is clear more education is needed in order to allow children to make better choices online.
I remember distinctly watching performances, in elementary school, warning us about the dangers of predators. I remember these as performances as being informative and age-appropriate. They were not nagging lectures. Yes, parents and educators need to be able to speak to children about these situations. However, they need support from experts who know how to get these messages across so they will sink in with children. After all, how many lectures from our parents and teachers went in one ear and out the other?
BBC: Many under-13s ‘using Facebook’ (2011, April 19). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-13129150
FBI: Summertime Tips for Keeping Kids Safe From Predators. (2014, July 7). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from https://www.fbi.gov/detroit/press-releases/2014/summertime-tips-for-keeping-kids-safe-from-predators