Under 18: Blogs, Wikis and Online Social Networks for Youth

The panel introductions, particularly Danah boyd, launched in with an interesting view on the current segmentation of youth, how it came to be and new behaviour that has arisen due to the following properties of the web: persistence, searchability, replicability, and the invisible audience. Essentially, the idea is the internet gives access to a public life that may not be available otherwise and especially so for rural communities or the younger end of the age group.

The focus of the panel was to explore the range between “young people are in mortal danger” and “the internet is fulfilling inner potential.” The panel spent the majority of the time reviewing the dangers to youth online and, most importantly, solutions.

Of course a major danger, is online predators. In May 2006, Deleting Online Predators Act was proposed to protect youth. The premise was to restrict youth access at schools and libraries to websites with any social aspect including the likes of MySpace but also Wikipedia. Its almost obvious that this is the wrong approach. To fully understand the phenomenon, what has to first happen is an acceptance by parents that this is more than a trend. Only then can a dialogue occur between parent adn child.

The problem isn’t the websites or the technology. Kids know to delete emails from strangers. The internet is an outlet and a mirror to what is really going on with a kid. The negative aspect highlighted in the media isn’t because the website provides a certian channel of communication. An interesting point is social workers should be online on MySpace and other social forums and helping through that medium as well.

Cheating and plaigirism are major issues in school. What is really interesting is the nature of the internet encourages remixing, sharing and collaborating. How does one explain plaigirism when content generation on the web means copying and sharing music, video, code, technique, and ideas. Traditional systems have to be intelligent and will have to learn from these social trends.

Of course there is a very strong positive side. One of the first points brought up is that social websites are good for quiet and shy kids, it is good for kids in isolated communities or those that feel isolated socially. It allows an opportunity for mentoring.

76design has a few upcoming youth oriented projects and we hope to achieve the ideals that were discussed.

The panelists really came across as knowledgable and I strongly recommend following some of the links below.

Speakers:

• Andrea Forte Georgia Institute of Technology
• danah boyd USC Annenberg Center - apophenia
• Anastasia Goodstein Publisher, Ypulse and author of “Totally Wired: What teens and tweens are doing online”
• Kate Raynes-Goldie TakingITGlobal: an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities.
• Erin Reilly Exec Dir, Platform Shoes Forum
• Elisabeth Sylvan Researcher, MIT Media Laboratory Lifelong Kindergarten: new technologies that, in the spirit of the blocks and fingerpaint of kindergarten, expand the range of what people can design, create, and learn.