Social Networking

What can be said about the nation’s new craze – social networking? Is it good, bad or indifferent? Although there are many different types of social networking, the premise is still the same, get or keep in contact with your friends, and become friends through friends.

One of the main attractions of engaging in social networking as a media specialist is that it is something the students think is exciting. Creating something that students want to use is the key. It is much more beneficial to develop a tool that may be considered somewhat controversial that students will use, rather than developing something that fits the status quo that students will not use. One of the goals of the media specialist is ultimately to provide useful information to students. If students are willing to go to Facebook, why not create a Facebook page for the media center. This can provide students with current information, tips and tools that can be used as they work on their assignments at home.

One criticism of using social networking tools within the media center is the open-access nature of the sites. Although the media specialist and the teachers teach students about internet safety, students often feel invincible and they don’t really understand the nature of those out to harm them. The problem exists only because one has to have a site to view a site. Therefore, students who may not be into social networking may create a page in order to view the media center and other teacher’s sites. If students don’t choose correct settings or if they just allow anyone to be their “friend” then predators or others intending to do harm have access to whatever personal information the student has published.

While the open access issue is very serious, continuous counseling about internet safety can help make social networking a very valuable teaching tool. The real thing to watch out for is addiction! Although I, and many of my friends and colleagues, said that we would not take part in the social networking craze, a single glimpse can cause anyone to become enraptured in the vast amount of data available. Students need to be reminded that social networking is not a substitute for actual personal interaction. (Some teachers will need to be reminded of this as well. Giggle, Giggle)

I do believe the benefits to using social networking outweigh the drawbacks. Media specialists in schools that do not have funding for a web site can definitely benefit from having spaces on social networking sites. I would say that perhaps a wiki may give them same advantage without the negative stigma currently carried by some social networking sites. Both types of sites have one similar potential drawback which is the opportunity for anyone to make comments that are public.