Frances Bell’s Blog

http://emerge.elgg.org/francesbell/weblog/298.html

Danah Boyd has posted on a panel presentations to the US Internet Caucus Advisory Committee. She contributed a qualitative data perspective to complement the quantitative perspective from David Finkelhor (Director of Crimes Against Children Research Center), Amanda Lenhart (PEW), and Michele Ybarra (President of Internet Solutions for Kids). The video of the panel discussion is well worth watching.

They present a powerful case for adult knowledge of how the Internet is used and how social networking works, so that they can engage with young people rather than employing knee jerk reactions. This data revealed the crossover between life on- and off-line. There were also positive examples of mixed age interactions online (e.g. in World of Warcraft guilds) to complement the stereotype (thankfully fairly rare) of predation online.

Educators, parents, youth workers and mental health workers could all benefit from watching this so tag it and pass it on please.