Only 55% of teens use social networks... and?

At conferences and user testing meetings people sometimes criticise me for being enthusiastic about things - I'm vaguely obsessive compulsive about particular things and it seems to grate with those who are less, shall we say, 'passionate'. The number one objection to most of the enthusiasm I have for educating kids in how to use social networking to their advantage - and safely - is that "not all kids do have a Bebo, or MySpace or a blog". People look kind of upset when I agree with them.

"I know", I say. "It's a shame really. I think more kids should be online learning how to present themselves to future contacts, acquaitances, friends and employers, and how to do without getting egg on their faces." This rarely does anything to appease those individuals who make the initial point but, hey, Never try to sell a meteor to a dinosaur. It wastes your time and annoys the dinosaur.

But David Warlick's fed me a new line. I like his flipping of the Pew research on US teens, which found out that 'only' 55% of them regularly used online social networking. His question: "What were 55% of pre-digital teens doing which involved literacy skills?" Were they all devouring novels? Were they all making daisy chains, playing football, playing on railways lines and 'Being Children'? I somehow doubt it. Nesbit and Ransome were good, but surely not that ubiquitous in real life.

Comments

[Kelly Christopherson]

Ewan,

At one point, not too long ago, I probably would have been one of those people who would have questioned you about your passion. However, in the past few months, I've had a change of view, not from any one source or person but because I have seen, through the blogosphere, the opportunity that is there for everyone, not just the students. I somehow think that we are missing out on an incredible opportunity to get students to be passionate about what they are doing in a way that we haven't had for many years. The tools and ability for students to create and push their understandings is like never before. You do a great job of touching on the important aspects of what needs to be done to bring about change that will allow all of us, teachers, students, parents and other people involved in education, to partake in learning like never before. Thanks for the great tips and insights.
Kelly