Living an Online Life: Moral Conversations about Social

Networking and Online Communication

Terry Darr, MLSLoyola Blakefield

Towson, MD

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Today’s discussion:

Introduction/Overview of “Living an Online Life” Social interactions and morals Year One: how it started Year Two: the discussion questions and answers How you can get started The future from here

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About Loyola Blakefield Grades 6-12 enrollment: 1,003 boys – 750 are enrolled from grades 9-12. All male, independent, Catholic (Jesuit) education School established: 1852 Library collection: 16,540+

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What is “Living an Online Life”?

Social networking: posting photographs, commentary and other content online for viewing.

Any type of online communication. (texting, IM, twitter)

Using the Internet to form moral judgments and impressions.

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What is social networking exactly?

An online gathering point for people. This can be to exchange information of all types, connect socially or share a common interest.

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Why do this discussion at school?

The school’s mission: “Men for Others.” Information literacy program initiative: start from the

ground level. AASL standards:

4.3.1 Participate in the social exchange of ideas, both electronically and in person.

4.3.4 Practice safe and ethical behaviors in personal communications and interactions.

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Where is the best place to discuss morality and social

networking in school?

Religion class: that’s where I do it. Philosophy class Psychology or Sociology class Back to school night Parent group meetings Peer education sessions Anytime there is a chance to discuss moral

decision making AND/OR technology.

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Facebook - Viral Connectivity

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Break the ice!

Facebook Manners and You (YouTube)

He should have called instead of texting!

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She broke up with

me on my wall!

Why did he post

that picture on Facebook?

Face-to-face Interactions

Comments “disappear” once they are said.

Reactions from others can be gauged and adjusted accordingly (social cues).

There is a limited number of people to deal with at one time.

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Online interactions are different Can’t see the reactions of others to what’s been stated.

Continuous, plentiful AND unsupervised.

Social boundaries aren’t clearly defined.

Visual connections with people are transparent in online environments. It’s easy to see “who you know…”.

It encompasses a much larger group of people than the average person meets with face to face in a given time frame.

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Year One: The Big Leap of Faith

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Living an Online Life: Year One Discussions 2008-2009

The focus was Facebook. What information should they put on their profile page? (too juvenile for

seniors). Photograph discussion: too “results orientated.”

Just touched on the stalking discussion. (OOPS!)

How will they judge or be judged by others based on their photographs or written content posted online? (OOPS! They don’t care.)

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Year One – Obviously, I was just getting started…

Assume students have an above average knowledge about Facebook and other similar sites.

Students don’t view Facebook as a dynamic communication tool. It’s just one more thing they do on the computer. No big deal.

Transitions between discussion points.

I was SCARED. (And there was GOOD reason to be scared!!)

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Year Two: There is a little growth…

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Living an Online Life: Year Two Discussions 2009-2010

Focus: Facebook and Texting

More emphasis on the concrete: “What would you do if…”

Correct emphasis on the importance and dignity of each person AND themselves - even online.

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Year 2: Small survey of honor board

Picture sharing and staying in touch with people from other schools.

They think 8th and 9th grade is the right age to start talking about this issue.

Texting is #1 communication tool. Offline identity=online identity

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Now for the Year 2 discussion

questions…

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1. This is her Facebook profile picture. What would you do if she asked you to take this picture?

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2. Facebook Photograph: Do you want this guy as your roommate?

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3. Facebook and Texting: What would you do if someone won’t

leave you alone online?

Solutions generated by students: Ignore it Ignore it until my gut tells me that

something is “crazy” then confront them. Confront the person immediately and tell

them to stop. Block or un-friend the person.

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4. Cyber-Stalking with Texting*

ME: What would you do if you got a picture text message from a girl and she was naked?

BOYS: Delete it Ignore it Say to her, “I don’t care. Stop it.”

*Teenage boys honestly don’t know WHY a girl would do this…

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Last Question: Did I invade the privacy of my daughter’s Facebook friends by showing you

these pictures?

They were split on this: Some felt like if the information was on the

Internet, it is fair game. Others said I didn’t get their permission. Others said my daughter’s permission is

enough to justify my use of her FB account.

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The Brick Wall

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What I did right…

I went back into the classrooms understanding that I wasn’t going to change the mind of every boy.

No one had EVER discussed this before: I was going to make most of them think.

Raise awareness of the necessity of active decision making in online environments.

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What are the inherent challenges?

Negotiating for class time.

Understanding your student’s current perceptions and use of online communities.

They will never be completely honest.

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So how do you get started?

Determine the best class in which to have this discussion.

Write the scope and sequence - present it to department head(s) and school administrators for review.

Get real life examples: photographs from the media or from student Facebook accounts and presenting case studies that they can relate to.

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To be determined… How do I measure and/or evaluate perceptions in teenage

boys?

If the discussion moves to the 10th, 11th and 12th grades, how do I advance the discussion appropriately each year?

How do I evaluate what I am hearing from the boys today in order to plan for tomorrow?

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What do YOU think? For college bound students, is it better to

have a co-ed discussion on this topic?

How do you envision a program like this at your school?

How can parents help their children make better moral decisions in online environments?

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Contact me:

Terry Darr, Library DirectorLoyola Blakefield500 Chestnut AvenueTowson, MD 21204Phone: 443-841-3648 (office)Email: tdarr@loyolablakefield.orghttp://www.loyolablakefield.org

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