SNS articles

These two articles are quite different and take two starkly different stances in the way they analyze SNSs.

Boyd's article presents SNSs as a fact of the new world that people must comes to terms with. She demonstrates a good understanding of the functions of SNSs such as Myspace and Facebook, but seems to regard them with near contempt. She describes them as a platform from with egotists can exhibit themselves and that people can use to reach mass audiences, although she concedes that SNSs are more often used by young audiences to network in groups of friends. The tone and presentation isn't condescending, but seems weary, or simply resigned that SNSs are a reality that everyone must become accustomed to.

Bennett, however, seems much more upbeat and accepting of SNSs, and the overall message seems to communicate that the new reality of digital networking ought to be embraced and used to better shape the next generations of internet users. The message of Bennett's article is a bit harder to read, simply because the context of the writing seems dated, comparing modern internet usage to lifestyle designs of the past several generations. That isn't to say that the information isn't pertinent or useful, just that the tone is almost old-timey. The call to embrace modern lifestyle and realities is definitely a useful one, but Bennett could have helped his cause by showing that he has an understanding of some of the SNSs available today--for all the talk about accepting the modern reality, not once are any SNSs named nor intimate knowledge of their machinations demonstrated. Talking even briefly about some of the SNSs that are influential today would have added a considerable amount of ethos to the article, but even so, Bennett makes a good point in saying that the way young people live, learn, and interact is vastly different, and teaching and learning methods should accommodate this change.