It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens
Chapters 1-3 Chapter 1: Identity: Why do Teens Seem Strange Online Quote: “Teens are struggling to make sense of who they are and how they fit into society in an environment in which contexts are networked and collapsed, audiences are invisible, and anything they say or do can easily be taken out of context” (pg. 53). Question? How do we as adults not take things out of context? How do we bridge what teens are sharing and what adults are seeing and allow both to feel understood? Connection: “Teens don’t see social media as a virtual space in which they must choose to be themselves or create an an alternate ego. They see social media as a place to gather with friends while balancing privacy and safety with humor and image” (pg. 47). I connected with this quote but I am on the opposite end- working way way closer to how teens see social media. I first started out this program with different ego’s in a sense- one for facebook, instagram or twitter. I wasn’t necessarily a different person but I shared very different things. Teens do not see the need for such drastic differences between the different social media platforms. Epiphany- Reading this chapter I continually thought how glad I am that I did not grow up with social media. I appreciate what teens have to go through but they are the first set of individuals to wade through the craziness of smart phones, boundaries and first appearances from our lives portrayed through social media. Chapter 2: Privacy: Why Do Youth Share So Publicly? Quote: “The teens that I met genuinely care about their privacy, but how they understand and enact it may not immediately resonate or appear logical to adults….they want the right to be ignored by the people who they see as being “in their business’, [their desire for privacy does not undermine their eagerness to participate in public. There’s a big difference between being in public and being public” (pgs. 56-57). Question: How do we know as adults what is not suppose to be for us to see if it is put out on social media? Connection: I resonated with many of the teens when they talk about their frustrations of sharing something on facebook or twitter but then someone who necessarily was not the intended audience responses. Sometimes I want to share something that I find incredibly hysterical but I know it may offend a family member by the choice of words so I don’t post it. Then it becomes me of thinking every person I am friends with and if they would approve--which is not at all how I like to use my profiles. Epiphany- I was inspired by many of the teens in these two chapters so far. For not being adults many were thinking about social media in a deeper way than many adults do. We need to trust teens and allow them to have their space- even if it's virtual. Chapter 3: Addiction: What Makes Teens Obsessed with Social Media? Quote: “Their use of social media as their primary site of sociality is most often a byproduct of cultural dynamics that have nothing to do with technology, including parental restrictions and highly scheduled lives. Teens turn to, and are obsessed with, whichever environment allows them to connect to friends. Most teens aren’t addicted to social media’ if anything they’re addicted to each other” (pg. 80). Question: What do the teens do that do not have smart phones or internet connection at home? How are they building friendships amongst their peers? Connection: I could see how my family could believe I was addicted to social media as well. I would like to say that I am not- but from an outsider's point of view I probably am. I am building more friendships with those in the program with me and our only means of contact so far has been through social media, blogs, texts and a google plus community. I am not addicted to checking social media sites but I am continually checking updates. To an outsider this may not look very different. Epiphany- If adults are not allowing youth to be in public because of safety then of course they are going to go to social media in order to communicate and build friendships! Works Cited: Boyd, D. (n.d.). It's complicated: The social lives of networked teens.
2 Comments
Andrea Jacobs
7/19/2015 02:06:15 am
I agree that social media comes with a set of boundaries that need to be set for our students and for teachers. Students have a little more freedom, but I am constantly thinking about my posts and if it's appropriate. I worry about typos, if it was silly to post, offensive, or just flat out lame. This is why I've shied away from having an online presence before now. I thought it was easier to just not share anything to avoid any hassle it may cause me. However, I now see how worthwhile it is to share ideas on Twitter and Instagram. I still maintain a strict boundary and would not post anything I wouldn't want my students or their parents seeing. But, I can relate to your connections in chapter 1 and 2 about sharing, but not over sharing. Great post! Sounds like an interesting book!
Reply
Lexie
7/21/2015 08:43:05 am
Kelly,
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
KellyI like people. I love their stories even more. Archives
August 2015
Categories |