Last week we continued our learning by looking at the topics of misuse and privacy by looking at sexting.  This week we will explore the concept of teen obsession with social media. boyd’s work in it’s Complicated pp. 77-99 will frame our exploration.  While reading this section keep in mind what boyd wrote (2014), “The activities at the core of teens’ engagement with social media look quite similar to those that took place in shared settings in previous generations-at sock hops, discos, and football game stands.  Teens hang out, gossip, flirt, people watch, joke around, and jockey for status” (p. 98).  How does approaching teenagers social media change, or affirm your current thinking about their use?

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ABOUT the book

dana boyd (yes her name is in all lowercase) is one of the world’s experts on youth and social media.  Her new book, is now out and certainly worth a read.  There are several copies available for check out in hard copy, however the entire PDF of her work is available for free here.