Why Social Networking Matters... Sort Of

Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites, continue to explode and some people wonder why? Do they matter? What's all the fuss about, really? Looking into this world is a bit like looking into a hall of mirrors, with reflections bouncing around all over the place. Sorting out the meaningful from the distorted is a constantly shifting challenge. There are multiple layers of social networking and the more we understand those layers, the more we will be able to create something meaningful beyond who had what for lunch today.nnThe Net Gen is Key Social Networking is the provenance of the Net Gen, the rapidly growing numbers of people who have grown up with the internet much like the boomers grew up with television. Call them Net Gen, Generation X, Millennials or anything else you prefer, and you still have the same phenomenon. According to Don Tapscott in his book, Grown up Digital, 77 percent of the Net Generation would gladly give up television and couldn't live without the internet. The Net Gen grew up "bathed in bits." A 2003 Kaiser Family Foundation study found that 70% of 4-6 year olds had used a computer and 68% under two were using screen media for 2+ hours per day. And that was six years ago! A 2008 study by Educause surveying 24,000 freshmen and seniors at 90 colleges and universities found that laptop ownership had increased from 66% in 2006 to 82% in 2008 while 66% owned internet capable cell phones. The typical student reported spending at least 20 hours a week on the internet and 7% were online more than 40 hours a week. 85% were using social networking sites, with Facebook outstripping MySpace 80% to 48%. Interestingly, the Educause study also reported that "younger" students were using social networking, text messaging and IM's more than "older" students. YIKES! Micro generational differences could be developing within a school, between kids separated by just a few years. Kids today expect educational content and experience to include the web, mobile devices and social media tools. For them, www means Whatever, Whenever, Wherever. Think about those three W's and you begin to see why Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are so powerful, both promising and potentially deflating.nnSo What Does Social Networking Really Mean?nnContinue reading on The Huffington Post