Response to social networking articles

          The articles assigned were both very interesting. They both had to do with social networking and how it effects the willingness of people involve themselves in civic engagement. The article by Bennett supported the idea that social networking and technology provides new opportunities and ways for people to get involved in social and political action. The article by Boyd supported a different idea that the people who use these sites and new technology are actually participating less in social or political causes.

          Both articles agreed that these websites allow people to reach and share information faster than ever before. The structure of these technologies allow people to communicate with each other anytime and anywhere. Furthermore, both articles shared the idea that participation has changed over the years. Today, people participate in civic affairs out of interest rather than a sense of obligation to do so.

          Bennett's article explains that change in involvement is not bad, but merely portrays that changing views and patterns that are occurring in today's society. The article claims that people should try less to force the use of old approaches of civics such as newspapers and other one-way communication methods and embrace this new digital age that uses interacting informational technologies. As Bennett says, people today have a "higher sense of individual purpose" and therefore participate by forming peer-learning communities to engage and share information about issues that interest them the most.

          Boyd had a very different view of how new generations are participating in learning about the issues. She claims that they are not. Boyd writes "Technologies are shaped by society and reflect society’s values back at us...". Today, generations are more involved in their individual interests and are more interested in sharing these interests with their friends or people they know who also share the similar interests. If people agree with the message shared then it is spread, if not then it will only reach a few number of people before it is swept away by more popular ideas. Boyd claims that these more popular ideas are about less serious matters rather than social and political ideas. This is due to the fact that people have less motivation to learn about these topics and instead, put more effort into looking for things that will entertain rather than inform.