Today I was fortunate enough to attend an Audio Conference in Hamersly Library room 205 from 11am – 1230pm. The title of the presentation/Q&A session was “Cyber Profiles: When Facebook and Myspace Come to Town”. I think this is a relavant topic today because Cyber-Communities are becoming increasingly popular.
As the ‘technology’ representative of both Housing & Dining I was invited to attend as I bring a different perspective to the table, in the chance that questions of that nature were raised. Fortunately for me, I was almost completely an observer – and few technology questions were raised (most were raised in the room – some of which I answered).
But it’s an interesting topic. Students are forming more and more intracate relational networks in online communities. But how much is too much? Sites like MySpace are really raising questions about confidentiality, anonymous web usage, stalking, privacy and information sharing. It’s is amazing to me that people are willing to add their cell # or even an address to a ‘public’ website (which most likely has their picture on it).
It raises a signficant number of other questions for folks down here, such as the Judicial Affairs staff. How do you deal with a picture of people in a residence hall drinking together? Can people be held responsible via the web? Where is the line?
From the numerous subscribing schools, viewpoints and questions from all ranges where expressed. I was pleased to hear that the prevalent wisdom was not to ‘beat them’, but to ‘join them’. Why shouldn’t the schools have a presence in the web communities? Why shouldn’t we be taking advantage of this opportunity to meet students’ needs on their ‘own ground’.
I think a balanced and healthy view requires understanding not only the technology but the ideas and the opinions behind sites like MySpace. Basically I’m saying that I’m going to get me SomeSpace so that I can understand the technology and even possibly integrate some of that technology into what we do here.