Dana Boyd's Social Network Podcast

Just finished listening to Dana Boyd's podcast regarding her research on students and their use of social networks. I thought it was very smart of her to begin her podcast with the reminder that social networks are ubiquitous among teenagers today. Most adults, including K-12 and higher ed teachers and administrators still don't get that, but we NEED TO!!

I agree with Dana that educators often find themselves stuck in the middle between parents and students expectations of how social networks should and should not be used - in school and at home. Parents and teachers must team up to help students understand the appropriate (and inappropriate) uses of these powerful tools.

Dana's discussion about friends lists as "imagined audiences" was very insightful. I had never thought through the differences between students with public profiles and broad friends lists versus those with private profiles and select friends lists. These students uses of social networks are quite different and educators need to understand both uses.

One of her most powerful points was that online social networks lack the "social context" to help students understand what behavior is acceptable. The example she used was that being in the classroom is quite different than being on the beach. Students understand the "social context" of these physical locations and would never, for example, lay out a beach towel in the middle of a classroom and start rubbing on suntan oil. Unfortunately for students, this social context doesn't exist on social network sites and therefore many students post things that come back to haunt them.

Dana gave a bunch of good suggestions for educators. Some that I believe may be most important for those of us in higher ed are:

• We need to realize that content on personal profiles often mirrors what's going on in the real world
• We need to be watchful for students whose profiles suggest they need help and then make sure that help - whatever it may be - is given
• Privately (not via posts) ask students about questionable information they post (or others post about them). For example: what do you think your parents would think about that?... what do you think a potential employer would think about that?... do you think that post could affect your safety or the safety of others?)
• Create your own profile AND keep it current and NOT LAME!! Write about your experiences without lecturing.
• Realize social networks are not classrooms!

I was very impressed overall with Dana's podcast, both as a parent and as a university administrator.