Is Social Networking The Best Method of Communicating for Children?

My short and simple answer is no.

Surely, social networking will survive in some manner, but certainly not in its current state.  There are too many social networking medias, it is much too distracting, and greatly contributes to lower productivity in the workplace.  (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20110711-inquiry-shows-excessive-facebook-use-at-dallas-city-hall.ece?action=reregister)  Employees think it is their right to spend time on Facebook and other social networking sites, regardless of whether what they are doing has anything to do with the organization’s business.  

Social Networking will lose its zeal when many people find that their personal information is floating in cyberspace with no one in control.  We have gone from a period of having unlisted phone number to “hello world, anybody, here all you need to know about me as well as what I am thinking!”  (http://www.dallasnews.com/business/columnists/pamela-yip/20110605-storing-your-personal-data-in-the-clouds-requires-research.ece?action=reregister)

Social Networking have our children, (already generation ADD), on a fast road to ADD++  (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html). Look at the trend; twenty years ago we had to wait two to three days to hear from someone; (U.S. Postal Service).  Ten years ago, we had to wait a few hours before we could hear from someone; (email).  Now we have instant contact, with people sitting on social networking sites all day just waiting to hear people rant and rave about nothing and everything.  You tell me, are children better off today than children were twenty or even ten years ago?   

Social networking sites have exposed our children to a world we fought so hard to protect them from.  The only difference is we don’t know who or where the stranger is (http://www.nsteens.org/Videos/SocialNetworking).  Is that really ok?

Social networking sites should be called “Advertising Overload Sites”.  You can’t go on any site without being bombarded with advertisement.  The sites have developed a method to take advantage of you by selling your attention to the highest bidder.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBQ7MKlOJic) Who is really benefitting from social networking?

One social media campaign which appears to be successful in getting its message out and advancing its agenda is Generation Texas (www.gentx.org).  Generation Texas is a social media networking commissioned by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to encourage student to obtain a higher education or become career ready.   The site provide video testimonies (http://gentx.org/story/meet-oscar-15/) from students and supporters (http://gentx.org/story/meet-senator-wendy-davis/) which serves as an encouragement to other students.  This campaign, although very new, has seen tremendous growth among students, colleges and universities.

As a newcomer to social networking, my position on this issue would easily classify as that of a novice.  Nevertheless, I am continually exploring this subject matter, and experimenting with ways to utilize social networking to communicate information to communities, parents, and students.  As my skills in this arena develops, I envision a better understanding and utilization of social networking media and tools.