Social Networking

Michael Wesch did a fabulous job at explaining what social networking was and how it affects our lives both in the individual and global level. He definitely made me think of social networking in a different light. What I enjoyed the most about his presentation was how he used several videos to support his claims and they made his speech all the more interesting. Before watching his video, I thought of social networking as a way of communicating with people that share your same interest or simply staying in touch with family members or friends. However, this isn’t necessary true, many people network for different reasons whether it’s to express themselves or find their identity; the possibilities are endless. And whether we know it or not, were often networking with people we don’t know or don’t have nothing in common with.
Wesch also explains how the different forms of networking communities, such as YouTube and Myspace, help to create new forms of identities and self understanding for individuals. These social networks allow people to express themselves freely without any constraints on how to act or what to say. People can interact with others without fear of possible consequences (not necessary, it depends how your interacting) and reveal information or parts of themselves they wouldn’t ordinary reveal to family or close friends. Social networking also creates a deeper level of self-awareness and self-consciousness that we aren’t fully aware of on a daily bases. For example, anything we post on-line can be manipulated by others and once it’s posted it’s history because we can never recuperate the copies others have made of it, whether it’s a video, picture, or blog. Therefore, people are self-conscious of what they post on-line because their aware of the consequences that may occur. People are also more self-aware of who they are or how they want others to view them due to the possibility of seeing or hearing themselves through their own creations.
Let’s be realistic here, nobody wants to say or do something they will later regret because there will be many instances were their words and actions will be replayed for them or for others to see. Moreover, the implications for social networking are endless, especially when integrating them into the classroom. Students will be able to express themselves freely, without feeling alienated or marginalized from the rest of the class. Every student, regardless of their social status, will feel a sense of purpose and appreciation through their online community. Social networking also offers students a variety of information that can benefit them now and in the future.

How can you use social networking in your classroom?