Social Networks

Being social online
Social networking allows youth to connect to friends who share common interests online.  Online communities have been formed around Myspace, Facebook and other social networks.  As Danah Boyd points out in Identity Production in a Networked Culture: Why Youth Heart MySpace, teenagers are using technology to connect in a space that is "theirs" rather than space that they see as controlled by adults. Thus, online social networks have become "the place to be" for a whole generational segment of the library's patrons.  In order to remain relevant, libraries should know about the benefits and dangers of these networks.

Security Concerns
If all that happened is that Johnny and Suzie got together with their friends and talked, and the worst that could happen was a few hours of lost sleep, parents might not be so worried. However, as parents know, the WWW in World Wide Web often parallels the Wild Wild West where controls and laws are not as concrete as parents, educators, and others would like them to be.

The dangers most parents fear are based around thoughts of their children falling in with the wrong crowd, bullying or being bullied, contacting perverts, or falling victim to identify theft. Knowing that kids know how to use a computer and see online social networks as a cure for boredom whereby they can try any idea "for fun" without realizing these threats exist, parents are concerned that what happens online can have a very real effect on their children's and other people's lives.

Common sense
How can librarians use online social networks without succumbing to panic? First librarians should teach youth and parents about online social networks explaining them as places where friends can meet online and have a good time. However, like being in a forest, there are dangers.

Youth need to know that just as in real life you need to know where you are and who you are with. If someone starts a fight or acts out of character, leave. Not everyone out there has your best interest at heart. Ask yourself - who are all of these people, "friends"? Just like being in a forest, you need to take precautions or you run the chance of running into a wolf.

"In Case of Emergency, Break Glass"
Librarians should encourage students to leave their password in a sealed envelope with one or two people they trust with instructions that the envelope is not an invitation to snoop but is there the same way fire equipment is there for an emergency. In the event of an emergency, the envelope will be opened and the trusted individual will take appropriate action, even over the objections of the person.

Case Studies
The case studies this week demonstrate how much libraries such as the AADL does with its MySpace Branch may be missing the mark on social networking sites. Sure AADL has billions of "friends" but how many have been to the library's site? What is the cost benefit?

Southeast MA Regional Library's My Own Cafe is a good example of creating a library-centric social network. However, this walled garden, although nice, is hardly a site with a lot of action. Unless the café does something new on a regular basis, this digital oasis will be swept away by bigger social networks.

Conclusions
As much as librarians should be aware of online social networks and the promise of reaching out to youth through this new medium, I remain skeptical as youth may view social networks as their space and view libraries like a parent who tries to be "cool" but isn't. That being said, new librarians may be able to chip away at the preconceptions of youth as they are old enough to know what to teach, yet young enough to be listened to, thus acting as the big brother or big sister who can understand the appeal of social networks while warning about the dangers.