Is social networking the future of our kids?

Browsing at some of the social networks I came accross a couple of "honorable mentions". Quite frankly, the social networks are lacking in the education department, unless the site was built specifically to support education. Among these networks, I discovered Ning.com. This website allows you to create your own website and publish it under headings they view to be "spotlight topics". For example, you can create a website supported by this network that allows one to have a "voice" to express to the social community their thought and ideas on a certain topic. Your site would then be found under the non-profit tab in their menu. The site also allows you to raise money or volunteers for your cause as well.
Another website I came accross is Kidsedwebsites.com. This is a very interactive educational website that posts many hyperlinks to other websites for educational lessons using technology. It also allows one to create a website on their link as well. Before you get escorted from their website, their is a brief description of the website you will be linked to along with the age approriateness of the content. There are no threads or blogs to follow, but gives you a way to connect with others through your own website.

As with all of these social network websites come guidelines and safety issues. As a teacher, you must be aware of the advertisers that are supporting these websites. They can cross the line and require users to divuldge personal information. You must also be aware of the topics that are typically blogged about and if they have an "on site" monitor. Pop-ups and software downloads can be another issue you may encounter. The intial site may be fine for your standards, but they may have links that could take a student to unmonitored websites and enable them to view inappropriate material.

With all this said, socail websites can be a fun way to interact and share ideas with students from other schools all around the world!

“If Facebook were a country, it would now be the 6th most populous in the world.” -- from InsideFacebook.com