Social Networking Evolves

"Friday unveiled new dynamic profiles that support Google's new OpenSocial APIs. Users of Plaxo's Pulse social network can now create distinct professional and personal profiles that include photos, contact information and privacy settings. Any applications written to the Google OpenSocial APIs can be embedded in the profiles, Plaxo said."
PC World


This is interesting. As digital citizenship becomes a topic for perspective teachers- this adds a new layer. I live in a cautionary work environment- a district office. What could be a place of incredible "could be's" is instead a place of suspicious "could be's". When MySpace is discussed, as a technology popular with students, the tenor is cautionary and suspicious. Predators and preteens posting drinking photos that ruin their career.
Well, okay. But what about an entire generation who wants to connect and communicate? Are those bad desires? Connecting and communicating with your peers? What a terrible motivation.

Can't you isolate yourself in front of a TV like we did when we were kids? Okay, that's a low blow. We rode bikes and skateboards- without helmets.

I can't stop. This whole attitude that it was better when I was young has become irritating to me. (Well, okay, ask any teacher I ever had, sorry Mrs. Steinhof, but I haven't ever had much patience for stasis- even in 3rd grade)

Anyway- how about this moment shared recently- a person from a generation that uses "boom" to describe themselves- tattoos is the topic. Tattoos, years of young women with tattoos visible above their posterior. And apparently this is a bad thing. The argument is that one day, all these women will age and suddenly be filled with some deep regret for caving to a trend. But I wonder, how exactly will this be true regret when half your friends have the same stretched out ink on their back??? Is it a reasonable thing to think an entire group of sleeved 40 year olds is going to bemoan something they all shared. Long hair was lame once too...

So it is with social networking software- just as the naysayers jump on the latest MySpace idiocy- post pictures of yourself boozing with friends and get busted in your "professional" life. Duh- is this technology static?

Uh, no. Technological Darwinism eliminates the weakness. Social networking sites now offer a professional and private setting. Jump on Boomers- scare me with the next bad thing.

If MySpace and Google want to take this to the next step, bring it on. I want to support an educational environment that embraces what is and knows how to support a digital citizen of all ages. Represent yourself for your intended audience and trust your audience to allow you the privacy to socialize and be professional using the same medium.