A study issued recently by the MacArthur Foundation might bring a little peace of mind to parents stressed about the time their kids spend online.
The three-year study, the most extensive yet on U.S. teens’ use of digital media, found that kids are actually developing important social and technical skills while online. To quote Mizuko Ito, University of California-Irvine researcher and the report’s lead author:
“It might surprise parents to learn that it is not a waste of time for their teens to hang out online… There are myths about kids spending time online – that it is dangerous or making them lazy. But we found that spending time online is essential for young people to pick up the social and technical skills they need to be competent citizens in the digital age.”
That said, mom and dad should still stay involved in kids’ online activities. While teens are learning the ropes of today’s digital world, they’re also navigating a new set of challenges, including how to manage social relationships online and managing their own public persona. How much visibility is too much? This is where parental guidance (and perspective!) is very helpful.
Some teens out there won’t appreciate me saying this, but social networking sites can also be a good way for kids and parents to stay connected. My own mom figured out a while back that the best way to keep up with her college-aged son and 30-something daughter was to “friend” us on Facebook. Now, instead of calling to ask what’s going on, she asks what our status updates mean.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Hey Michelle,
I completely agree with what you’re saying here. The problem lies with the fact that most parents don’t have a clue what a “social network” is. When they hear the word “social”, it automatically has negative connotations. If more parents understood exactly what social networks are and what they can do, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation.
So the question remains, how will parents ever understand? I think that it will just take time. Uninformed parents will soon find out that the Internet ain’t so bad…
Cheers,
Mike
PS-Check out http://www.neurolanguage.com/blog for a post about DELL.