reinventnow

Blogs, Wikis and Online Social Networks for Youth

Quick stats:

• in US, 87% of 12-17 yr olds are online
• in US, 80% of parents are online

dana boyd says… US explicitly practiced age segregation in the early 20th century with the public school systems.  Before then, kids mixed with different ages.  Now, socialization is happening in same-age groups.  The internet has opened up the public space again for youth…

What’s good about the architecture of public life on the internet (and how is this changing socialization):

• persistence
• searchability
• replicability
• invisible audiences

There is more of a participation divide than a digital divide.

The seriously wacked out DOPA bill was reintroduced this year as S49.

“If we took care of the people, the technology wouldn’t matter!” — danah boyd, on the attempt to limit access to “protect” minors.

What about this “don’t talk to strangers” idea?  Everyone on the internet is a stranger to some extent.  Almost everyone new you meet is a stranger, but their strangeness is de-emphasized because of a “role” they play.  Talking to strangers is critically important to youth.  Cross-pollination is key.