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February 23, 2006
MySpace Defined and Explained
For a reasonable exposition on the MySpace phenomenon (Thanks blogging friends), go read "Identity Production in a Networked Culture: Why Youth Heart MySpace" by Danah Boyd for the American Association for the Advancement of Science on February 19th, 2006.
Read it here.
A quick preview of the conclusion...
"Youth are not creating digital publics to scare parents - they are doing so because they need youth space, a place to gather and see and be seen by peers. Publics are critical to the coming-of-age narrative because they provide the framework for building cultural knowledge. Restricting youth to controlled spaces typically results in rebellion and the destruction of trust. Of course, for a parent, letting go and allowing youth to navigate risks is terrifying. Unfortunately, it's necessary for youth to mature."
Stephen
Posted by stephen at February 23, 2006 5:01 PM