Comments on: Safe and effective social network site applications

By: Getting social & keeping safe - principles for SNS application development - Plings Blogs

Mon, 18 May 2009 18:05:33 +0000

[...] Social Network Application for Plings We first started drawing up this paper back in November last year when plans for a Plings Social Network Site application emerged. Between then and now then [...]

By: Harry Harrold

Harry Harrold — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:23:29 +0000

@ Andy – Even assuming your observation is universally true – which I’d challenge – I think there’s an issue of causation to consider. An observed correlation between “those who spend time on sns” and those who “struggle to reate in the physical world” doesn’t necessariy mean that spending more time on sns leads to an individual struggling to relate in the physical world any more than it means strugging to relate in the real world leads to spending more time on sns.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:36:02 +0000

Thanks Tim and Mike for your comments. Tim I can agree totally, that spending too much time doing anythng can be dmaging in so many different ways, fromm spending time in a closed faith community, to sports, I would totally agree, and Maybe you are right that there is not much research, and foundational basis for my comments, but my comments are based upon the wide circle, and variety of cirles of friends that I have. And it is clear, although subjectively amongst the people that I socialise and spend time with, that those who spend large quantities of time on sns, and communicate through chat processes that these give, do struggle to relate in the physical orld. I can accept many of the arguments that have been put here, both by yourself tim, and by mike, but the manner that people relate on sns, does not, from my own observations, and i would like to research this more, enable people to relate in a meaningful, and indepth mannr in the physical world. Of course sns, providers and other online community based providers are wanting people to use their facility as much as possible, and I accept that in a world of pushiness, and yes, again, i am sure the sns providers are not wishing to damage society, but the technological age is something we live with, but I am not yet convinced that it doesn’t have a detramental impact upon our physical society.

By: Mike Amos-Simpson

Mike Amos-Simpson — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:25:37 +0000

Sadly I couldn’t find Andys document. With regard to the general statement though my thoughts would be pretty much the same as Tims. I think currently theres maybe a bit too much “learn to use the web”, when there needs to be a lot more “how can the web benefit your life” and I’m working towards trying to shift the emphasis a little in that direction at the moment.

Very importantly though I’d also say that the web and all the other various technology now available has significantly changed the way most people in this country interact and function, and its very important that we equip young people to thrive in this environment and do so in a way that benefits society at large. That does of course include their ability to form effective relationships offline…….. complemented by the huge array of communication tools available to them.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:48:41 +0000

@Andy: Hey Andy

I’m not convinced by the thesis that online environments significantly negatively impact people’s ability to interact socially. And I certainly think statements to the effect that virtual environments have “a large impact upon our society today, as people close themselves off into virtual worlds, and therefore become unable to relate properly, civilly, emotionally, intemately, with those people around them” are over-generalisations without solid basis.

I think in many cases they can help people to develop social skills. In the absence of certain critical literacy people can end up spending disproportionate amounts of time on online environments, in the same way some people can spend disproportionate amounts of time engaged in sports, shopping, or immersed within closed faith communities.

I will say neither that the technology is to blame, nor that it can be absolved of all responsibility for this – as we do need a nuanced approach – recognizing that the design of online environments is often intentionally trying to increase the amount of time people spend in them (which is in the commercial interests of the platform providers after all) at the same time as recognizing the immense amount of positive, and blended (i.e. crossing over between face-to-face and virtual) communication, collaboration and personal development that can take place in virtual spaces.

Broadly my argument though is that we need to take a community development approach to online environments – which may involve encouraging people to step from online environments into face to face environments, or equipping people with skills and critical literacy to make the most of the immense opportunities that online plays.

I would certainly recommend taking a look at the Digital Youth Research here for more on the positive aspects of online interaction: http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/

BTW: I’ll drop you a copy of the original Safe Social Neworking and Youth Work and Social Networking paper by e-mail. Appologies that the PDF was not accessible – I’ll look into the software I’m using to create PDFs to see if I can improve their accessibility in the future.

By: Mike Amos-Simpson

Mike Amos-Simpson — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:12:02 +0000

thanks Andy – bookmarked to read later on!

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:02:11 +0000

Mike, sorry, yes, the website is http://www.rolltherock.org.uk and look under youthworkers forum i think it is, or youthworkers network, the article is there for all to read, slightly basic at the moment, because I wrote for my own interest and observation, and becasue I am wanting to write more.

Any thoughts on it mike would be appreciated. thanks.

By: Mike Amos-Simpson

Mike Amos-Simpson — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:51:45 +0000

@ Andy – do you have a link to your article? sounds interesting

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:49:27 +0000

Many interesting and valuable points raised here in the paper tim. Unfortunately I am totlally blind, and therefore my screen reader was unable to read the pdf file. But although there were many interesting points raised, there seems to be one that is constantly missed out in all discussions I have been involved in, or have heard to do with sns, and that is the impact on inter-physical relationships. it has become more and more aparant to me that I can observe those who spend a large amount of their time on sns, and how they then struggle to relate in a physical capacity to family, friends, and those in a physical environment. This I think also has a large impact upon our society today, as people close themselves off into virtual worlds, and therefore become unable to relate properly, civilly, emotionally, intemately, with those people around them. I have written more about this and posted it strangely on my facebook page, and also on my website under youthworkers network, it is available on the website for all to read, called it facebook or faceless, as I suggest that sns takes away from the physical relationship. would be interested to read more and connect further on this issue.

By: Stevieflow

Stevieflow — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:39:39 +0000

Tim from Substance has just blogged in relation to the Rhizomatic link:

http://blogs.plings.net/?p=289