Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
text, photo, hyperlinks, etc.) and user-generated
content. For instance, most sites allow users to
share personal profiles, write comments, upload
files, and select applications, although the extent
to which sites incorporate new information and
communication tools, such as mobile connectiv-
ity, blogging, and photo/video-sharing varies.
Many SNSs offer condensed versions of their
services for customers who want access via mo-
bile handheld devices such as cell phones, which
have become nearly ubiquitous among youth and
adults of all ages (Lenhart, Madden, Macgill &
Smith, 2007).
Some of the most common activities young
people engage in are creating online profiles,
visiting others profiles and leaving messages,
viewing digital content, authoring content and
sharing content created by a third party (Childnet
International, 2007). Indeed, students engaged in
SNSs are more likely to be content creators: post-
ing or remixing digital images or video, creating
or commenting in blogs, or maintaining a website
(Lenhart & Madden, 2007). Interestingly, a recent
survey involving over 2,000 nine- to 17-year old
students, parents and school district leaders in
the U.S., reported that much of students' online
sharing in SNSs involves frequent exchange of
private and public messages and comments, with
education being a common topic of conversation
—e.g., 60% of students surveyed reported using
their SNS to talk about education topics and 50%,
to talk specifically about schoolwork) (National
School Boards Association, 2007). Outside of the
United States, the Digizen Project of Childnet
International is examining how SNSs can ben-
efit young people in the United Kingdom and
around the world. The Digizen site (http://www.
digizen.org/) offers a framework for evaluating
the appropriateness of SNSs for formal or infor-
mal learning. A downloadable evaluation chart
considers a site's age restrictions, the presence of
advertisements, collaboration tools, security op-
tions and data management restrictions. The site
also outlines considerations for educators trying
to integrate such sites, including privacy issues,
cyberbullying prevention and legal issues.
Demographics of SnS use
Typically thought of as a youth phenomenon,
the demographics of SNS users are increasingly
diverse. Today there are hundreds of online social
network sites, the two most popular being MyS-
pace and Facebook with about 115 million users
each worldwide (Stone, 2008). Launched in 2004,
MySpace generated more page views than Google
orYahoo and has broad appeal across all age ranges
(Compete, 2008). More than half of MySpace users
in the U.S. are under 35 years of age (77%), with
young people 12 -17 years (29%), 18-34 years
(44%) and the over 35 demographic representing
a smaller (23%) but still significant proportion
of users (Quantcast, 2008). About 300,000 new
people sign up for MySpace every day. Its users
span more than 20 international territories, includ-
ing the United States, United Kingdom,Australia,
Japan, France, Germany, Mexico, and Canada. In
the U.S. one in fourAmericans is on MySpace and
in the UK, it is as common to have a MySpace
profile as it is to own a dog. Moreover, MySpace
has a large presence within the entertainment
industry. It maintains a dominant position as a
media-sharing site (i.e., uploading music, videos,
scanned artwork, photography, etc.), giving users
the opportunity to interact with brands, bands,
artists, actors, and other creative professionals
as well as to self-express. Analysts expect to see
more television and video networks integrate and
work with MySpace (Owyang, 2008).
By comparison, Facebook also appeals to
a broader demographic than simply teenagers.
People ages 18-24 (34%) and 35-54 years of age
(33%), constitute Facebook's two largest groups of
users. Originally created to foster social network-
ing among U.S. college students, Facebook is still a
dominant presence on college campuses; however,
more than half of Facebook users are outside of
college, and its fastest growing demographic is 25
Search WWH ::
Custom Search