One particular aspect of “Living and Learning with New Media” I found interesting was the idea that kids who do not have internet access at home and have to use library or school computers are missing out on the social aspect that the internet offers. Schools and libraries block websites that kids would use to communicate with others their age and engage in popular culture. I never considered that not having social media could affect the way kids interact with their environment. Just because one kid does not have Twitter, Instagram, etc., does not mean he/she won’t know what these websites are or can’t use a friend’s, but it does mean they can’t interact in this way unless it is through someone else. Even if a kid uses a friend’s account when they are together, he/she cannot share personal thoughts because someone else’s will always be included. There is something to be said about not having the option to participate in a major cultural aspect of growing up. If a kid only has access to a computer and the internet when doing homework or research at the library or in school, what will his/her relationship be with technology? It will be associated with work rather than interacting with peers and putting filters on pictures for everyone to see.
Technology is a massive part of growing up for kids today. I have worked with kids every summer since I was allowed to work, and I have seen the way that technology affects the way they interact with each other and the world. I had six year old campers arriving in tank tops that said “#CRAYCRAY” in sparkly letters (that is not a joke). My campers and gymnasts try to add me on Facebook, Instagram, and follow me on Twitter and get upset when I tell them I won’t/can’t accept them. It is their way of trying to further our relationship and gain a closer bond, and they take it personally when I do not accept. This is the way they are growing up. If you like someone as person and have a bond with them of any kind you want to solidify it with social media and be a part of his/her life in another way. People my age were taught not to request people like camp counselors, coaches, teachers, etc., because it isn’t appropriate. What does this say about how technology is changing our relationship?
I too work with kids in the summer, but at the camp that I work at we are encouraged to accept the friend requests of our campers because we are oftentimes the only good influence they have in their lives. (We are not allowed to be friends with non-teen campers who are boys.) This definitely makes me step up my game on social media and act like a role model while posting. I have to think twice before I hit submit because I know ten year olds who look up to me will be reading my statuses. However this does not go the other way around. I always hope that my statuses will have a good effect on my kids, but the rest of their world is a stronger influence and they post all sorts of profanities. This breaks my heart that they cannot filter out their statuses when they are posting in front of their Bible camp counselors.
I think that it is really interesting to think about the interaction with younger children and technology. When I see my former high school teachers on Facebook being friends with other people my age, I feel really awkward. I wouldn’t want to have people that I used to have teach me see what I do in my personal life. Like we were discussing in class, I think that our age group was right on the cusp where we experienced both aspects of the technology world: we both had to live with and without all of these technologies during our life. I think that this gave us more respect and hesitation towards things like adding teachers on Facebook. I don’t understand why kids would want to be Facebook friends with their teachers/camp counselors/other people of authority.
As someone who has friended former teachers on Facebook, I did it as a way to further my connection to people I feel I can learn from. I’m not really invested in their personal lives and have different privacy settings for what they can view. If I ever need to reach out, as I did once to observe some classes at my old high school, it’s an easy way to get a hold of these people.
I don’t like the idea that students can’t interact with teachers as fellow people. There are understandable boundaries, especially while students are still in middle or high school, but once you’re so many years past graduation, I think it’s fine to connect with someone who happened to teach you as a fellow adult.
I am intrigued by the conversation about adding people of authority. As I mentioned in a previous comment I feel that authority has gotten lost in the crowd so to speak. I think that this is part of the reason why. Boundaries are being pushed and people are acting in different ways to fit in with social media norms. I totally get that, however, I have recently become great friends with a few of my previous teachers in high school and am friends with them on Facebook. I think part of why this has happened for me in particular is because these teachers now think of me not as an equal but at least as an adult. I talk all the time with a previous teacher who reads my poetry and gives me feedback. You could say that this is a way of extending his teachings, however, we do this sometimes at a local starbucks. I will admit almost all of the previous teachers that are my friends on Facebook are writers (besides my calc teacher but I won’t get into that) and that is like a whole other universe. So I’m curious to hear what others have to say about the fact that I am friends with my old teachers. I don’t find it weird, and most mutual acquaintances don’t find it weird, but that is all within the bubble of where I grew up. Thoughts?
Starbucks*** my apologies.
I’m friends with former teachers, and I don’t see an issue since we are all adults at this point. One of them recommended me for the job I have right now, which has had a major impact on my life. If I hadn’t stayed in touch with her, things would look a lot different for me. Maybe it’s different for us because we plan to teach, so these are more mentor like relationships than friendships.