Social Networking

As a mother of two teenagers, I see the pro and con of the Facebook and MySpace type of social networking. I don't see how the classroom could be positively impacted by students using these. Instead, I think it would keep students interested in what the latest posting, status change, new picture added, or bulletins. I know that I have seen very mean and inappropriate comments posted by teenagers about others. I would hate to think what they would say about a teacher they got upset with. The benefit that I see is that it teaches teenagers how to complete advanced technology tasks with editing and music on their pages. It also allows them to be creative creating their own unique page.

I found that it was interesting that the interpersonal networking concept originated in 1929 by Karinthy Frigyes who said that we are all connected to each other and the internet or the world wide web was not developed to decades later and it truly did connect us with virtually everybody in the world.

I had never heard of a friendling. I do understand what it is with the adding of friends to someone else's profile. I just had not heard of that term. This reading has got me thinking about how social networking could be beneficial in the school setting. I did get some ideas that I would love to try particularly with younger students that have not been exposed to the vast amount of unhealthy social networking.