For those of us using online networks on a regular basis - it’s nothing unusual. For those that are not members of the usual – or unusual – sites, the benefits of social networks are not readily apparent.
However, regardless if you’re a member of social networks or not – pretty much everyone has heard of MySpace – THE site for teenagers and music aficionados (at least in the beginning). But things are changing – we’re now going after the really young crowd, with a new entry into the field of social networks, designed for young people (kids and tweens).
Check out Imbee- touted as a social network site for young people. According to the site, Imbee is the “first free social network designed for young people!”, “…parent approved, teacher endorsed social networking site appropriate for kids and ‘tweens”.
What is your opinion on that?
Is it needed – in order to teach kids about networking, and as a convenience for teachers to use in class?
Or is it overkill – starting them way too young on the social networking path - while they are too vulnerable and not discerning enough?
Asking some older teens (18 and up), the opinion among them was: “This is like a Pedophile Net – plain stupid.”
What do you think?
Filed under: Social Media | Tagged: Kids, Networking, Social Media
Hi, Sabine,
You have to get use to social media. You and I, we were not born with a keyboard in our hand but teens are and they don’t make a difference between communicating online and offline.
With social media, they also have an online personality that is becoming sometime more important than their offline personality.
Teens are becoming autonome younger thanks (or should I say Because of) internet.
We are not able to protect our children from this, but they are born with internet. Not us.
Frank
Frank,
Thanks for commenting. I don’t disagree that todays kids are used to having the net available 24/7 etc…my concern is the fact that we seem to be pushing quite a bit at them as it is – from school to extracuricular activities. At what time do we allow them to be ‘just kids’ – specially when it comes to the Elementary school ‘crowd’?
Sabine