The abundance of social media applications, sites, and software available today is enough to make even the strong of heart take refuge in safer harbors (i.e.: “email”).While we adults are struggling to find meaning in all that social media has to offer, our children are playing happily in the sandbox, giggling at our lame attempts to join what they perceive to be their own personal game. According to a Forrester Technographics and Media Study conducted in Q3 2008, 98% of the 13-16 years olds polled used social media sites several times a week or more. You read correctly, 98%. The same study also reported that 54% of the same respondents used social media regularly with a friend. So not only are kids digging-in and playing in social media sand boxes, but they are doing it together. No longer can we portray young digiophiles as anguished teens, stuck in dark rooms, alone, using computers in evil and mysterious ways. I am not suggesting that young people with angst no longer exist, but those problems are typically rooted elsewhere, and later manifest themselves at the expense of a machine and the child. What we must take stock of as educators is that this is the place where kids hang out, and their networks are expansive and global. It may look like a little sandbox (a stand alone computer or phone), but it is much, much bigger.
So overwhelming are the options that many adults have given up, or even worse, not even tried to make sense of all this computer nonsense. As parents and educators, we have a social responsibility to understand as much as we can about the sites and software our children employ for social and educational purposes. While most struggle to keep up with the ever changing landscape that defines social networking, the burden to educate the masses remains on those of us who have chosen to be part of the new media culture. It is not enough to simply use media, because that is a singularly defined act benefiting one person. If you fall into the “advanced user” category, you should be asking yourself some important questions. How can I spread the word? How can I educate others on the benefits and pitfalls of social media? Where might kids go next?
The issues with children’s use of social media always has, and will always exist. They are children, they will make mistakes, they will lack judgment and sound reasoning at times, they will do boneheaded things at the very worst time. None of these things has anything to do with social media per se, but all of them have everything to do with them as people. The tools, sites and software that define this new age of communication needs to be reviewed, understood and monitored. Educators need to educate parents and students alike, and parents need to be present, asking questions and probing into the minds of their children to make sure we raise this generation of learners to be responsible, understanding adults.
At Canterbury School, many of the faculty are actively engaged in social networks as tools for learning and communicating with colleagues, students and parents. Sites like facebook.com, ning.org and youtube.com have been embraced as part of our students social culture, as well as the school’s learning culture. We see room for improvement in our effort to be compassionate social media educators, but the important thing is that we are present and accountable. Children want us there to guide and assist them, but not to be seen by their friends. This is a small price to pay in exchange for the invaluable opportunity to interact with them on their terms. Don’t despair if your struggling, safe harbors are available, and the kids will let you know where to find them. If you want to make a difference, if you want to understand why and how kids are interacting online, you need to swim in the deep waters of social media. Don’t fret, there’s plenty of room for everyone.
