https://padlet.com/stefshep77/cvzkdb685lxt Response to it's complicated reading for INT en-us 2018-02-06 15:29:34 UTC 2018-02-06 15:56:29 UTC hello@padlet.com stefshep77 https://padlet.com/stefshep77/cvzkdb685lxt/wish/228655791 My takeaway from this article is that social media need not be as demonized as it can be by parents who think it is something kids are addicted to that holds no value; this article led me to realize that it is almost the opposite at its core. Social media is simply a manifestation of a desire to socialize and be a part of groups that has existed as long as humans have. What I found most poignant was the fact that social media is often the only way that teenagers can socialize safely and effectively. We put pressure on teenagers to go to school, participate in extra curricular activities, excel at their homework and contribute to their family. On top of that, we create public spaces that are geared towards adults, and then add insult to injury by not letting teenagers drive until they are 16. Social media is a networked public that they have latched onto, because it allows them to socialize despite the barriers listed previously. Danah Boyd highlighted the reasons beyond social media consumption, instead of the activity taking place on different platforms. This was a fresh perspective to me; I started thinking about the "why" instead of the "how" of social media. When you consider that kids are dying for connection and validation, (as we all are), it puts issues like cyber bullying and in another light. Cyberbullying has no place in society, but instead of focusing on the why, (what kids are posting, who they are targeting, etc) we can also consider the reasons behind the posting, which is what Boyd discusses. Overall, my takeaway is a new perspective on social media and a desire to put a face behind a post and remember the human desires that motivate social media use.]]> 2018-02-06 15:32:52 UTC https://padlet.com/stefshep77/cvzkdb685lxt/wish/228655791 stefshep77 https://padlet.com/stefshep77/cvzkdb685lxt/wish/228670273 While I did learn a great deal about the "why" of social media, I do think that it is important to not get swept up in Boyd's book, or other sources that don't focus on social media addiction. I do firmly believe that teenagers join social media for social purposes, I believe that it can turn into a negative, addictive force if it goes unchecked. Socializing can quickly turn to searching for validation and feeling desperate for an online community to confirm your every move. I can certainly see parents concern over social media, but think it needs to be focused on the reasons why students are using it (addiction to validation vs. normal socialization) instead of the fact that they are indeed using it. ]]> 2018-02-06 15:53:00 UTC https://padlet.com/stefshep77/cvzkdb685lxt/wish/228670273