Susannah Stern’s article Producing Sites, Exploring Identities: Youth Online Authorship explores the phenomenon of young people creating web-content. She examines not what they create, but why they create it. She points to the “curious mix of intrigue, disdain and apprehension” (p. 95) that many adults express about youth online authorship and attempts to bypass the question of whether these online expressions are ultimately positive or negative. Stern, rather, attempts to ascertain the purpose that young authors themselves feel that their work serves.
I was stuck by how her informants viewed their web-pages; as both fluid documents and as projects to be proud of. The web page functions as diary, as scrapbook, as soapbox and as sounding board. I found Stern’s admonition not to “exoticize” (p.114) teen web-expression helpful. Teens are doing what they have always done; seeking to explore, reinvent and refine their identities. The internet is merely another, constantly-changing, place for them to do that.
I was left wondering, however, if the number of youth web pages and blogs has dropped as the popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter has risen. The danger of any research on teens and technology is that both technology and the informants change so fast, that by the time something is published, its relevance may be suspect. Data ages quickly when it concerns the intersection of adolescence and technology!
I found an interesting article published this month in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy about an immigrant teen informant and her use of digital spaces (Myspace, Facebook etc.) to both maintain ties to her home culture and to navigate her new American identity. The author, Cheryl A. McLean, draws on Anthony Giddens’s idea that new media contributes to “disembedding” us from physical space and that “social locations are carried out across long distances” (McLean, 2010, p.15). McLean ends her article with the admonition that “Ultimately, literacy educators must respond to youth literacies as multiple, fluid and overlapping if we are to create “homes” for the diverse learners who make up contemporary classrooms. (McLean, 2010, p.20). It seems to me that digital spaces are, increasingly, where teens construct identities and we, as educators would do well to embrace that reality.
The link to McLean’s article is below:
McLean, C. (2010). A Space Called Home: An Immigrant Adolescent's Digital Literacy Practices. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(1), 13-22. doi:10.1598/JAAL.54.1.2. https://catalog2.nmsu.edu:2104/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&hid=107&sid=3ebd4754-d88b-4545-a029-d3ed23a58dd6%40sessionmgr110
You wrote, “It seems to me that digital spaces are, increasingly, where teens construct identities and we, as educators would do well to embrace that reality.” I absolutely agree. Just today I read an article about school reform from the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/05/AR2010090502817.html) which included the following quote.
ReplyDelete“The unstated assumption of much school ‘reform’ is that if students aren't motivated, it's mainly the fault of schools and teachers. The reality is that, as high schools have become more inclusive and adolescent culture has strengthened, the authority of teachers and schools has eroded.”
I share this because I am struck by the difference in tone about youth culture and identity. Stern (2008) explains that technology has allowed a public forum for teens’ identity search and self-expression giving them a voice they’ve never had before. It seems to me that she is in favor of utilizing technology to help today’s youth to do more of the same. The Washington Post article had a different tone about today’s youth. It seemed to allude that adolescent culture has gotten “stronger” than the authority of teachers and the schools. Do you think technology can give too much power or too much voice? This is an interesting thought in light of social justice issues. Thoughts?
Hello Jessie!
ReplyDeleteI was very interessted in your post, specially the last paragraph.
We have talked about technology so much; but what does it really look like in action? As a result, I was trying to read the article you suggested; but the link seems to be broken. I was wondering if you could please e-mail me a copy so I can read it and understanding a little better the last part of your post.
Thank you.
Lizzeth.
Jesse, I also was left wondering if the number of teens publishing blogs or web pages has dropped with the popularity of social networking sites (SNS). As you and Michael Alvidrez reminded us in your postings, technology changes very quickly. For example, while something may seem current if it was written in 2008, where technology is concerned, it quite easily could be outdated right after it is written.
ReplyDeleteI found this February 2010 CNET podcast about teen blogging and SNS that you might find interesting.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30977_3-10448620-10347072.html
Lizzeth,
ReplyDeleteI will certainly e-mail you the article. Jeannette, thanks for that link. Very interesting and speaks to what I was wondering. Thanks!
Larinee,
ReplyDeleteI wonder too about the "balance of power". Teens operate in a precarious position in our culture. We give them enormous social power (media, advertising etc.) when it comes to deciding what to buy. Youth culture IS pop-culture. On the other hand, we don't allow them much in the way of real work or authority and we are frightened by teens in groups. Weird.
We allow (and encourage) teens to operate in a bubble of adolescence, untainted by anyone who is not also an adolescent. It is no wonder that social media etc. extends that even more. My opinion is that it is as much about how we view adolescents as it is about the technology.
What does that picture of those children mean? I am getting curiouser and curiouser each time I visit your blog.
ReplyDeleteI found it in an old science book that my mother has. It is a kindergarten science exploration book...but it's very light on text. I think the kids are figuring out what soaks up more water...but they could also be concocting some sort of exotic poison. I don't know.
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