MySpace and Facebook and Tagged, Oh My: What you need to know about social networking websites

1. MySpace and Facebook and Tagged, Oh My: What you need to know about social networking websites Dr. Odin Jurkowski Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Spring Conference 04.16.07 Session VI (4:30pm) & 04.17.07 Session VIII (10:10am) http://faculty.cmsu.edu/jurkowski/MASL2007 Last updated 4.13.07

3. What this Workshop is all About Social networks: What are these new fangled things all about, why do I need to know about them, what does it mean to me and my students?

4. Agenda • Introduction • Web 2.0 (Library 2.0) • Social Networking Explained • Safety • Education

5. Expectations change • “Email is for old people” • Cell phone, IM, MySpace,…

6. Wow, that’s a lot of users • There are over 106,000,000 registered users of MySpace (as of 2006). • If MySpace were a country, it would be the 11th largest in the world (between Japan and Mexico).

7. Examples • MySpace – 80% of social networking use • Facebook – 90% of college students • Tagged, and 100 others…

9. Social Networking Websites and Teens: An Overview "More than half (55%) of all online American youths ages 12-17 use online social networking sites, according to a new national survey of teenagers conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.” • Older teens, particularly girls, are more likely to use these sites. • For girls, social networking sites are primarily places to reinforce pre-existing friendships; • For boys, the networks also provide opportunities for flirting and making new friends."

10. In December, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions launched a Facebook page designed to communicate and build community among students admitted to UCM for the fall semester. Within 24 hours, approximately 15% of the admit pool at the time joined the community. Admissions Representatives have responded to student questions and concerns regarding a variety of issues including finding a roommate, selecting classes, orientation, next steps, etc.

11. Everyone’s Involved • Barack Obama http://www.myspace.com/barackobama • Hillary Clinton http://www.myspace.com/hillaryclinton2008

13. Web 2.0 • Instant Messaging • Blogs • YouTube • Video Blogs • Podcasts • RSS • Wikis • Social Bookmarking • Online Photo Galleries

14. Following is a compilation of characteristics of 21st-century learners gleaned from a variety of sources, including an American Association of School Librarians blog, high school and university student interviews, and Kim Jones, vice president of global education for Sun Microsystems. Multimedia oriented Web-based Less fear of failure Instant gratification Impatient Nonlinear Multitasker Less textual, more modalities Active involvement Very creative Less structured Expressive Extremely social Need a sense of security that they are defining for and by themselves Egocentric Preference for electronic environments Have electronic friends Thrive with redefined structure Surface-oriented Information overload Widening gap to information access Share a common language Risk takers Technology is a need Aren't looking for the right answer Feel a sense of entitlement Constant engagement All information is equal No cultural distinctions (global) Striving to be independent Characteristics of a Digital Native

15. Social Networking • Asynchronous • Less pressure than phone • Not face-to-face: less intimidating • Easy • Personalized • Features Web 2.0 components: discussion, notes, pictures, … • Events

16. Positive Aspects • Social networking is a way to connect to others • Create new friendships, or a way to contact current friends • Sense of community • Opportunity to create a positive self-image

17. Challenges • False sense of security • Students can be stalked • Overuse can distract students from academic and other extra curricular time • Association with certain interest groups could create a negative impact on image • Could get in trouble with school administrators for improper use or poor judgment

18. Safety on School Computers • Filters • Antivirus • Deep Freeze • Acceptable use policy • Webpage disclaimers

19. Warning to Students • 77% of job recruiters check web sites and social networking sites before hiring • Some schools using information on web to make discipline decisions • Safety / stalking issues

20. Stay Safe: What to tell students • Keep your identity private • Never get together with someone you “meet” online • Never respond to e-mail, chat comments, instant messages, or other messages that are hostile, belligerent, inappropriate or in any way make you feel uncomfortable • Talk with your parents about their expectations and ground rules for going online • Utilize privacy settings • Google yourself • What you post may be around forever • Wayback Machine • Think about who may see your profile: parents, grandparents, teachers, employers

21. Proposed Legislation • Illinois • Social Networking Website Prohibition Act (SB 1682) – public libraries and schools would have to “prohibit access to social networking websites on all computers made available to the public.” • Georgia & North Carolina • SB 59; SB 132 – would require owners of social networking sites to force minors to get parental permission • Alaska • SB 49 – ties e-rate funding to blocking minors’ access to social networking sites unless there is parental consent

22. ILA Talking Points • Education, not laws blocking access, is the key to safe use of the Internet. Libraries and schools are safe places where kids can learn essential information literacy skills. • Limiting access to social networking sites in E-rate schools and libraries will have little impact on the overall problem since young people access these sites from many locations. If children are going to get into trouble online, chances are it won’t be at school. • New Internet-based applications for collaboration, business, and learning are becoming increasing important, and young people must be prepared to thrive in a work environment where meetings take place online • Local decision making is the way to solve the problems

23. Educational uses • Communication tool • Student organizations • Announcements But this is primarily at college level. What about k-12? • Safety / Security • Under 18

24. Organizational MySpace Pages • Brooklyn College Library http://www.myspace.com/brooklyncollegelibrary • ALAhttp://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=134390181 • Independence High Schoolhttp://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=groups.groupProfile&groupID=100000360&MyToken=d909252a-83e6-48d8-a326-ca1098e7dbf8

25. Why do we need to be aware • Concepts are important, and these pieces show up in other secure software tools • Need to understand what students are doing • Need a safe social networking site for schools • Parents need to communicate with children

26. Social skills are integral to media literacy “Preventing libraries from dealing with social networking sites is the worst possible course of action. Instead, let’s make sure that our librarians and teachers have an informed perspective about what’s going on in the online world, that they know how to balance the risks and benefits of using social networking that most adults now use to go about their work lives.” – Henry Jenkins

27. Useful Resources • List of Social Networking Sites http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites • ePALS SchoolMail http://schoolmail.epalscorp.com/schoolmail/ • ePALS SchoolBlog http://schoolblog.epals.com/?id=epalshome • http://www.ila.org/advocacy/pdf/DOPA.pdf

28. Examples • MySpace http://www.myspace.com/odinjurkowski • Facebook http://cmsu.facebook.com/profile.php?id=57008116 • Shuzak http://www.shuzak.com/SignIn.php

29. Contact Information Dr. Odin Jurkowski Associate Professor of Library Science & Information Services Program Coordinator, Educational Technology Department of Educational Leadership & Human Development College of Education University of Central Missouri Lovinger 4200B Warrensburg MO 64093 phone 660.543.8387 jurkowski@ucmo.edu http://faculty.cmsu.edu/jurkowski