InfoScope

There’s been a lot of controversy over the the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) recently.  At first glance, it only makes sense to restrict online predators from access to youth on social-networking sites such as MySpace.  The act would ensure that facilities that receive federal aid (namely schools and libraries) would simply block minors from accessing social networking sites.  This would be for their own protection, of course.  Problem solved.  But at what cost? 

Danah Boyd discusses how youths have seen a decrease in access to “youth space”.  The reasons for this may be due to a lack of mobility, an increase in organized activities such as sports as well as a general parental fear of the dangers that lurk “out there”.  As a result, teens spend most of their days in spaces controlled by adults and other authorities, such as schools, adult-run clubs & teams, and even at home where parental rules apply.   But this is not the case in the digital world, where youth can create spaces to just “hang out”.  This space, while it may be threatening to adults, is important according to Boyd, because it is where youth make connections, figure out the rules and become socialized.  

Wade Roush also points out that there is already a “participation gap” between teens who have access to social-networking sites at home, and economically disadvantaged youths who may need to access these sites from school or the library.  DOPA would simply increase this digital divide between advantaged and disadvantaged youths.   

So if youth need a place to “hang out”, then what is the solution?  According to Henry Jenkins:

If educators really want to protect young people, they would teach social networking in the classroom.

Joanne Barrett also points out that youth often don’t see social-networking sites as public, where information they post about themselves will be seen by many others and where they will leave digital footprints.  Cyber-bullying and harassment is also an issue.  She agrees that there is a need to educate youth to use these tools wisely.  In MySpace and Deleting Online Predators Act: Discussion with Henry Jenkins and Danah Boyd,  there are some practical suggestions for parents and other adults to help in educating youth about the use of social-networking.  

Adults can’t stop teens from making mistakes.  Trying things out and taking risks is part of the teen experience.  Providing information and discussion surrounding potential problems and issues and then standing back and hoping that their kids will be OK (for better or worse) is what parents have been doing for a long time.   We need to let them have “TheirSpace”.