As I read Danah Boyd’s 2007 article, Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of networked Publics in Teenage Social Life” one comment resonated loud and clear. “The popularity of MySpace is deeply rooted in how the site supports sociality amongst preexisting friend groups” (p. 10). This alludes to the idea that social networks exist apart from the popular sites of the Internet like MySpace, Facebook, etc. Even Boyd (2007) recognizes such a relationship when she writes, “Because of the intricate connection between offline and online social worlds, the audience that teens envision online is connected to their social world offline, or to their hopes about the possible alternatives online” (p 15). Therefore, pre-existing social networks in the “real-world” greatly impact the social networks in the cyber-world. While this seems like an obvious statement, no one seems to make a “big deal” about offline social networks. Why not? Aren’t offline social networks just as powerful, just as prevalent, and just as public?
Nicholas Christakis discusses how the large-scale, face-to-face social networks in which we are embedded affect our lives in his TED talk. (http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_christakis_the_hidden_influence_of_social_networks.html )
He has spent a great deal of time researching, plotting, and graphing the visual map of social networks in the real-world looking specifically at obesity trends and happiness trends amongst connected people. His research demonstrates that a person’s experience in the world depends greatly upon their place in a social network. He explains that connections matter and people choose a connected life because the benefits outweigh the costs; when the costs outweigh the benefits, ties are cut and the network disintegrates.
If participating in a “real-world” social network has benefits, then one can assume that participation in the cyber-world social network has benefits as well. In the YouTube video Social Networking In Plain English (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc) the author explains that Internet based social networking sites show the hidden connections of real-world social networks that otherwise couldn’t be seen. This documentation allows a member of the network to better understand their audience. Boyd (2007) explains it is “necessary to understand the scope of one’s audience to properly present oneself” (p. 15).
So, to answer my question above “Aren’t offline social networks just as powerful, just as prevalent, and just as public?” I say yes; the difference is the proof of connection with online networking sites. Boyd (2007) concludes, “What has changed with the emergence of new tools for mediating sociality is the scale and persistence of possibly publicity” (p. 22). I conclude that today’s teens need education about social networks both online and offline and the advantages and disadvantages that both can bring.
Boyd, Danah. (2007) “Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life.” MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning – Youth, Identity, and Digital Media Volume (ed. David Buckingham). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Last week was “Fire Prevention Week” in our school. As part of the week the firefighters visited our classes and talked to the children about the usual items; how to prevent fires, what to do in case of a fire at home, fire alarms, meeting place in case of a fire and stop, drop and roll among other topics. I think that parents, perhaps many, talk to their children about fire prevention. However, school is the vehicle to reinforce, or introduce, fire safety. So I wonder, what role schools are going to play in the education of children about online social interactions. Especially if social networks become more of a teaching tool. An additional thought is that I do not know if I know as much about social networking as young people know.
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