October 27th, 2011
Those without strong online social networks will be left out of the digital conversation, educator and consultant Angela Maiers argues
Readers' advice to students: Think about the digital footprint you want to leave.
The inclusion of social media data in the algorithms that search engines now use to help people find relevant information online could create a “new digital divide,” educator and consultant Angela Maiers believes—“those with a powerful network and those without.”
She also proposed a “new rule” that sums up the importance of managing one’s online profile carefully: “You are what you share.”
In a wide-ranging Twitter chat with eSchool News readers Oct. 19, Maiers discussed the implications of the decision by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, and other internet gatekeepers to build social media data into their web-search formulas.
The discussion touched on what this new trend toward “social search” means for society, why it’s important for educators to teach social media skills to their students, and how to make parents more comfortable with their children using social media in the classroom and at home, among other topics. Maiers was joined on the chat by Daniel Newman, an entrepreneur and business professor, as well as dozens of eSchool News readers.
When web surfers use Google, Yahoo!, or Bing to look for information about a topic, the search results they now see at the top of the page might differ from those of their neighbor. That’s because all the major search engines have revised their formulas to include social media data—such as how frequently we’ve visited a particular website before, or how many of our online friends and acquaintances have endorsed it—as key indicators of a website’s importance.
“Until now, [a website’s] data rank was untouched by social elements,” Maiers wrote. “Today, there is no separation—social engagement impacts [the] rank [and] value of data.”
This subtle but powerful shift, which Maiers defines as “social search,” has come about as the web has evolved “to meet our need for personal, relevant, and customized info,” she explained. “We want our search engines to be find engines. In order for that to happen, the web needs to know us.”
Major search engines “recognize that data from those we engage with socially will be more likely to be seen as ‘trusted,’” she added.
But this shift also has enormous implications for students and society.
For one thing, it gives more weight or credibility to information that is widely shared through online social media. So, those with larger social networks now have an advantage when it comes to exerting an influence on the web
As a result, “we need to emphasize and teach explicitly … how to share, how to engage [and] collaborate, [and] how to network [online],” Maiers wrote. “It matters!”
It’s no longer just what content you contribute that is important, she added, but “who you are—your character, your intention, your motivation that becomes important. … If you contribute content to the web, but don’t act socially responsible—if you’re not nice in the sandbox—your content won’t spread.”
That observation led Maiers to propose a new rule that every student should learn: “YOU ARE WHAT YOU SHARE!”
Educators should spend time helping students build their “SQ,” or social intelligence quotient, she said, because “social intelligence impacts how data is moved, organized, [and] ranked. … Your content, no matter how good you think it is, will be judged by [the online] community—[and] the velocity it spreads [and the] impact it has depends on SQ.”
That means students must learn not only how to post content online, but also how to engage others politely in two-way conversations about their content. “Content without reciprocal conversation will not spread,” Maiers said, adding: “Success on the social web is a choice. You choose irrelevancy when you don’t participate, play nice, [or] honor your community.”
Newman noted that “everything that you do online is the same … as in the real world. Think about the footprints you want to leave.”
“Very well said!” chimed in participant James Gubbins. “I have a seven-second rule before I click the ‘post’ button on any network.”
“My advice: Be careful with comments on blogs as well,” wrote Jure Klepic, who goes by the Twitter handle “jkcallas.” In response to a reader’s question about what to do when others attack you online, he said: “Kindness and politeness always kills … arrogance and rudeness! Send them love and they will go away.”
Reader Melissa Shur, who goes by the Twitter handle “uwlalum,” asked chat participants at what age they thought students should learn these important lessons. “Parents get nervous when they hear ‘social networking’ used in class,” she noted.
“I think we need to embrace teaching proper social citizenship early,” Newman wrote. “Knowledge is power, right?”
“I think, since some kids have a digital footprint before they are born, it should be as early as possible,” agreed reader Shari Sentlowitz.
“It starts with learning to be a good human being,” Newman added. “Take that online and you will succeed.”
Shur noted that, while students are very comfortable online, many parents are not. “How do we help parents become comfortable with [social media] and with students using it?” she asked.
“We have hands-on workshops for parents and show them how it should be used for educational purposes and digital citizenship,” wrote Jerry Blumengarten, whose Twitter handle is “cybraryman1.”
“Schools can offer open school nights for parents,” wrote Nancy Rubin. “Have students teach about technology (win-win for everyone).”
“I like this idea!” Shur tweeted in response. “This puts the students in the driver’s seat! Parents could learn a lot.”
“We must understand that the fear we feel about these new challenges is nothing like the fear we experience by being irrelevant,” Maiers concluded.
To continue the conversation online, you can use the hashtag #amedchat.
Article printed from eSchool News: http://www.eschoolnews.com
URL to article: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/10/27/social-media-savvy-the-new-digital-divide/
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[2] have revised their formulas: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/08/10/new-web-search-formulas-have-huge-implications-for-students-and-society/
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I think that having digital access is great because it helps you do many things. You are up to date with news, and Facebook for instance knows everything about everyone so you can too if you're friends with them and you can also stay in touch with friends and family. I think there is definitely a digital divide between people who have access and people who don't. I feel that it's good for teachers to teach students how to use the internet properly, especially if you aren't familiar with it because then you have an idea how to when you need it.
ReplyDeleteFuture searches will change. In my opinion, don't share a computer.
ReplyDeletepeople should be aware of what they post online. for instance, facebook. everyone thinks, only your friends that you accept on facebook can see your posts, comments, pictures, videos, etc. but really anyone in the world could see your profile information, wall, pictures, videos. anything! and if your applying for a job, you wouldnt want to post nasty things about your last job and boss about how much you hated work and your "stupid" boss. that doesnt look good, so why would someone wasnt to hire you? youll do the same thing. just nag about how you have to go to your "horrible" job. so, they wouldnt hire you. you wouldnt want to the boss at the job your applying for to decline it, and say "because, you have bad language on your facebook and you talk bad about people and all of your jobs." that would embarrass you, and youd look like a fool. and even if you delete things, people from the government can go back in and trace it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if you want to have a facebook, have a facebook, if you want to have a twitter, have a twitter. But what you do on those accounts is up to you. If your parents tell you not to get one, then don't. Don't share personal things on anything. Don't put your address or phone number on any account because that can be unsafe. If you have an account, you should keep it private so no one can search you and find things out about you. If you put threats as your status or anything like that you WILL get caught. Like the passage says, you are what you share. If you use facebook as a journal and say "Oh I don't like her, I want to kill her" you WILL get in some sort of trouble. But in all honesty, it's easy to put bad things on your facebook or twitter, and if someone does, it's there choice. I would never do that because I know how to be safe on the internet. Overall, it's important to be safe on the internet, but if people want to do bad things on it, then they will. End of story, we can't stop them. They are going to do what they want to do. [:
ReplyDeleteLeaving footprints in the world with social media should be the same as presenting yourself in the real world. You wouldn't want anybody important or in charge thinking your a fool. Posting comments on social should be the same as if you were really talikng to a person or people. What do you really want people to think of you as? That is a question you must ask yourself when posting on a blog, status, or anything to do with social media websites. I agree with what the article stated.
ReplyDeleteI also think its important for kids to be taught about this. If kids arent taught when they are younger, they are going to grow up and not know how to use the internet properly. Then they will have a bad background on the internet.
ReplyDeleteToday’s society is based solely off of the media and what is found in it. Years ago, social networking was frowned upon and never taught in schools; however, today they are beginning to teach how to use these social networking sites during school, claiming they benefit students and their search engines (i.e. Google, Bing, Yahoo). In my opinion, social networking sites should not affect or be forced upon a student; I think these sites have the potential to be harmful to my generation and the next. Shari Sentlowitz replied to comments with, “I think, since some kids have a digital footprint before they are born, it should be as early as possible.” That is a large assumption to make and at such a young age should kids be worrying about a social network or should be continuing a healthy life and stay active? Around the age of fourteen would seem appropriate to join a network; however, that is solely because it is now known to affect the search results on search engines. Thus being a good time because this is the age students enter high school and will begin to need search engines for good information. However, before that age, kids should enjoy being kids and they are not at the maturity level to be responsible for a social media site. They need to be aware that what is on the internet is forever on the internet. Kids need to be responsible for their actions and words, handling things in an appropriate manner via internet.
ReplyDeleteI think that every thing will cahnge in the future. I think you just shouldnt share a computer. If you do share a computer be really careful of your things on there. Make sure all of your things are pertected from other people. I think all searchs like google yahoo will all change in the futrue.
ReplyDeleteWhat you post online is your own desicion. Making smart desicions on the internet is something that you should do. What you say on the internet is your own choice. You need to think whould i say that in person? Making smart desicions may help you in the future, so make them.
ReplyDeleteI think that digital access is useful for certain things. Things like Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, etc. Digital access is useful for research, studying, social networking, etc. It keeps you up to date on modern events or lets you learn about past events. It is especially useful when information is needed.
ReplyDeletedigital access is good for a lot of things. its godd for facebook and email stuff. it lets you know what has ahppened or what is happening. it gives you good information.
ReplyDeleteto me i think thant you should let people use the internet to talk to friends that are in your computer class. kids will be very happy to be able to speak with there friends and communicate with the teachers watching of course but still. people are more likely to not say something bad about anybody with the teachers looking at them.
ReplyDeleteDigital access can be good or bad. It can be good because you can find references to help you with homework, classwork, etc. It can be bad because you can also be exposed to scams, computer viruses, etc.
ReplyDeletepeople should also be able to use digetal access because it would also help you with your knolage of what is going on in life and that is what i think of people useing digetal access in there schools
ReplyDeletethank you
I think that what you post is your choice. If you want to do something that people can hold against you, then so be it. However, there are many ways to avoid that. Using bad language, posting innapropriate pictures, talking about other people, and not having anything positive to say are ways to ruin your chances for many different things. If you want a job or a scholarship you should make sure you check all your webpages to make sure they're clean. The social media websites can be a great way to hear about important news or something to that sort, but if you abuse it then there's really no point to all the good things about that site.
ReplyDeleteI think digital access can be good. It allows people to know who really are. If you dont want a job not to hire you dont post stupid things or dont even have a twitter or facebook. Everyone has opinions but right them in a jornal or something because it can effect your future. But I do not believe teachers should teach facebook and twitter because some people could honestly care less. Also if our parents let us have a facebook or twitter they trust us enough to know what to do on these websites. I believe digital acess is good but teachers should not teach about facebook and twitter.
ReplyDeleteYou can post whatever you want online, but you should think twice before actually doing it. If you post something negative, it could be used against you. The way people see you online could be how they see you in real life.
ReplyDeleteDigital access has it's good and bad points. It can be good for like homework, buisness, work, projects but depending on if there is bad people out ther that could be bad because of the swearing and cyber bullying. If you post something that is bad or negative you woudn't neccasarliy get introuble then but it might show up later on like in job interviews or appilcations. It is good however to keep intouch with people and knowing how everything is but you just have t watch what you say. Also because of viruses and spyware. They can get into your computer through as easy as an unfamiliar email so everyone has to be carful.
ReplyDeleteWhen my class was asked who all has a facebook, everyone raised their hand. Since the world is obviously revolving mostly around the newest technology and social media, kids should be taught about this! It's only going to get more and more advanced in the future so we might as well start now and teach them. What you put online, however, is very crusial. One wrong upload could make you unemployed or even kick you out of school sometimes. Many people don't know about what all their posts and photos can do to their future. It is their choice, but what if they don't know the conciquences. We need to start teaching everyone about Social Media, the good and bad, and about everything else you can do with technology. Facebook and other social media bases aren't bad things if they're used the right way. The worlds changing... try and keep up.
ReplyDeleteDigital Access can be good for employees to see if they want to hire someone. If someone has a bad background on Facebook they got a good chance they wont be hired. Also children should be taught at a young age how to use the internet the correct way so these problems will not affect them. Make sure you make the right choices on commenting on something because someone you might not want to see it will.
ReplyDeletei think teachers should be able to teach students how to use facebook and twitter correctly. you can choose what to post online and what you want to say, but think about who is going to see that.you shouldnt use bad language or be so negative all the time. if employers see that, they are going to think that your not good for that job.
ReplyDeleteI think that what you choose to do on the internet is your choice, but you should beaware of what you are doing and posting. You should also take into consideration that anybody can see what you do on the internet so therfore you should be catous and think twice before you post something. Overall I think it is your choice and you should be able to do whats right.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone encluding kids should be taught how to do this. If they arent they will have bad things said about them. Also they will have bad background.
ReplyDeleteI think that people should be carful what they post online and learn how to use internet sites and not start any flaming in a conversation in a chat room or post any mean comments about someone or something. Digital access is very helpful on what you want to do while using the internet, like social media websites or any information you would like to research but, sometimes wrong information about a topic gets on a website and you might be using the wrong information so, be careful on some sites that you use and make to ask a parent or guardian first on what websites you go on.
ReplyDeleteTeacher should teach kids how to use facbook becuase then they will know how to use them correctally.
ReplyDeletedigital access is a good thing and a bad thing. it is ood because you can find stuf on it for projects. it is also bad because people can use it to make scams.
ReplyDeletei think digital access can be good butr i think it is mostly bad. the good thing about this could be for homework that was unfinished or a project of some sort, but if your on facebook or myspace(if any one goes on it any more) at what point does the privacy setting come into use? the privacy setting was put there for one important reason, to let non-friends see your stuff.or maybe some one hacks your facebook and wrights a whole bunch of stuff thats not true and your trying to get a job some where and there goes your job because they looked at your facebook and at stuff you didnt even write. it would be nice to use it in class rooms and right now i dont see what is so bad about using it accept for people going on it when there not suppost to. also id there really had to be a teacher monitoring what your doing on facebook the teacher couldnt do what they really wanted to like grade papers or check their e-mail or even talk on the phone when the office calls or someting. i just hope when im looking for a job i dont find a person that goes out and looks at what i have done because i have been hacked many times.
ReplyDeleteI think that computers being able to search by things that you have searched before, and other things you do on the internet is going to result in personalized internet at some point in the future. Which I personally think would be boss.
ReplyDeletei think social media can be good and bad. it can be good to find people or for people to find you. its also good to be able to chat whith people online. but you have to be careful what you post online for the world to see. i have to be responsible fro myself. i gotta make sure who i let on my profile, friends and family are the only people who should be aloud to see my profile.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is good to find facts that we dont know or have question s about it. Like thing the teachers dont tell us about so digital access is good to everyone.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you post on the internet will stay there forever, and I don't think some people know this. When you post something bad online anybody can use it against like an employer or a judge. Present yourself online as you would in person.
ReplyDeletePeople van post whatever they want online. That doesnt mean that they should because eventually all that stuff will catch up to them one way or another.
ReplyDeleteYou should be careful about what you post online so you do not make a bad name for yourself. You want to keep your conversations friendly and do not post anything you wouldnt want anyone to see. What you do on the internet is your choice but be careful about what you do.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion whenever you want to share any belongings, for example your laptop. You want to keep a everyday history to see who had used your laptop and what websites, he or she went in to look or see.Becasue if you dont do this starting now you'll have problems in the future.
ReplyDeleteYou should be careful about what you post online so you do not make a bad name for yourself. You want to keep your conversations friendly and do not post anything you wouldnt want anyone to see. What you do on the internet is your choice but be careful about what you do.
ReplyDeleteDigital access can be a good and bad thing. It can help you with your school work. But sometimes it may give you results that you didn't want to see. It will also keep you updated on your social media websites. If you share a computer with somebody, it may give you different results than you actually wanted. If we used Digital access, there would be a lot more scamming going on. Also people need to be careful what they say on the internet so it cant be used against you.
ReplyDeletepeople will usually posts things that are bad. For instance facebook, people think only friends can see what you write. thats not always the case thoough. Alot of people might not have internet access at home so they wouldnt be able to get online.
ReplyDeletepeople should be aware of what they post online. For instence facebook any body can loof at your stuff. Not just your freinds any body in th world could look at it so you guys are scewed ha.
ReplyDeletei thik you students should be tought social media so they know hgow to use it and help advoid getting hacked, and what not to share on your profile.
ReplyDeleteDigital access is a great thing for kids to stay in touch with friends and also a great way for adults to find old friends and catch up. If we did not have the digital access we have today our world would be so much differant. Even though you are being monitored you still have freedom to a certain level. The acess could be a great thing for our nation but it is also a bad thing for the kids and adults. kids are getting caugth bullying and adult can be caught harrassing others. The digital world is a way to stay conected but also a way to get your self in major trouble. Digial access can either be good for you or get you in trouble. If u have the matturity there is nothing to worry about. The chance is all up to the person useing the social site
ReplyDeleteI think you should be allowed to post whatever you want. But you would have to be ready for any consequences that follow. So you just have to be careful about what you write. Don't write whatever comes to your mind, think about what your writing first and how other people will react to it.
ReplyDeletei think that these new things that we are finding can help us out in many ways. Like it could make it a lot easier to veiw things we have not been able to veiw before. but i also sometimes think that the things we couldnt see before were set up like that for a reason. like i maybe we couldnt see somethings becasue not everybody in the world should be able to see it. i feel it could put us in danger of many things becasue of the information it is giving out bwith out requesting permession of the person the information belongs to.
ReplyDeletei think that students should be taught by teachers how to use social media so that in the long run we know more how to do things and can have conversations and interactions and wont be lost in life.
ReplyDeletepeople should just watch what they post and keep stupid and private things off the web
ReplyDeleteI feel that digital access can be a good thing. It can be good because if you had homework from the day before you can post on facebook, and ask what it was. Digital access can be a bad thing at the same time because if you don't have the right pricacy setting than everybody in the world, including people that you dont want to see your profile, can see you personal information.
ReplyDeleteI think that children shouldent be on the internet in the first place cause there is alot of creepers out there that are trying to steal your children and its just not safe at all parents have to watch out for their kids while they are online.
ReplyDeleteI feel that parents should monitor what websites their children visit and what they are doing on those websites. There are a lot of people out there trying to kidnap your children so it is important that you watch your children. When your child is old enough then allow them to get a Facebook or Twitter account. However, until they do, you should watch your child's every move on the internet. The internet is a dangerous place.
ReplyDeleteI think you previous searches should not affect you other search results. The results then could be something completely different then what you are looking for. Especially if you are using a family computer and you’re not the only one using that computer. Further more I believe that there should be a separate seach area if you want the results to reflect your previous searches. That you always get the information you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteDigital access can be a good and bad thing. If you have a Facebook, anyone in the world can see it. If you aren't careful about what you post on a status, post, or blog site, it can hurt your future. Also, there is a lot of people that find out your information on Facebook so you have to keep yourself safe. Internet is good for studying, school work, homework, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think that kids should have acess to facebook in school so the teachers can teach them to use it. If we have acess to this in school then kids that dont have acess can leave a online footprint at school.
ReplyDeleteDigital Access can be a good and bad thing. It can be a good thing because it can help you with your school work, but then it can also give you results you dont want. Internet is good for studying and finding this that he or she forgot in school, because teachers usually put up the work and site that can help you get cauth up or just to study. Also Digital Access will keep you updated and in touch with other people on social websites. What people put on those websites is up to them. If they want to complain and stuff then most likely no one is going to hire them and or they will be fired from the job they currently had. I think people should watch what they put on facebook only because if someone would put out a threat they will get caught and they will be in very big trouble.
ReplyDeletei dont know man i think its kinda riski cuz of the scams and viruses and ppl that would want to hurt u. so i dont think its a good idea bro.
ReplyDeleteI think we should be able to go on facebook in school. The teachers could learn more about students through facebook. But the students should also be appropriate while posting comments and updating their status. Anyone can see the stuff posted on the internet and that can be a bad thing sometimes. Parents should also watch what sites their child is on to keep them safe.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a wonderful idea to have twitter/ facebook incorporated into our school's education. It can be a source for fun and education as well. It depends on what you search at home for fun, because if you search for something for school by searching the same way, you aren't as likely to get as many results if you don't use good searching techniques.
ReplyDeleteI think digital access is a good thing but only depending on the situation. It is a good thing because it can help you with your homework and research that you are doing to help you get the answer you are most likely looking for. It can also keep you in touch with other people.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the whole article, I decided that the most important phrase to me is, "you are what you share". I couldn't possibly agree more. If you share something stupid online, the only thing that will do is make you look stupid.
ReplyDelete