MySpace

MySpace, one of the marvels in this computerized world. How fortunate the young people are today. I can't even compare my childhood to the kids of today. I was lucky to have a pen pal and then that was even questioned. However, I was fortunate to be involved in many volunteer organizations which helped me develop relationships with both adults and people my own age. It was an experience not equal to what the young people have today; however, I feel my experiences were more meaningful. Not too many young people are exposed to these opportunities that I took for granted. Today, the young people almost force their parents to keep up with new technological advances. It appears with MySpace, the young people are too secluded, staying in front of that computer too many hours and making decisions that become part of our public and permanent record. Perhaps it has its advantages; however, I do not see the purpose. Todays teens are facing an array of ethical challenges. It is a good thing that organizations like the MacArthur Foundation are involved in its development by helping the parent, teacher, student work through some of these issues and make sensible decisions about how they conduct themselves online.

Compliments to Amy Alessio and Joe Torres for the development of STDL's MySpace. It is colorful and perhaps useful to today's teens. It is much more attactive than the MySpace page for Charlotte-Mecklenburg. There appears to be a lot of useful information - like social networking, linking classrooms around the country and around the world, getting kids from different cultural background to share their everyday experiences with each other and learning to communicate across differences. These are positive results that I see happening. I am pleased to see ILA heavily involved by education and promoting safe use of the Internet. It is obvious that there should be more public discussion of the opportunities and risks represented by MySpace and other social networks.