How Young is Too Young for Social Networking?
Posted by Nick O'Neill on January 25th, 2008 9:00 AMAccording to the London entertainment guide “This is London,” the BBC is setting up a social networking site for those that are 6 to 12 years old. This appears to be a rival to the Disney owned Club Penguin site. I’d hate to be the one sitting at a meeting where we determine that six year olds have become our new target market.
The main argument against the BBC launching this site is that they are a publicly funded organization and this has nothing to do with any of their programs. I’m sure they see this as a huge marketing opportunity though. While children play on the site, the BBC will market BBC owned programs that are for the younger generations. From a business stand point it makes a lot of sense but for a company funded by the government, it may not make much sense.
Regardless of Bristish related issues, this brings up another issues which is the question of social networks and young children. The first thing that will probably come to mind is the risk of pedophiles. At the same time, we begin teaching our children about socializing early on and perhaps a large portion of socializing now takes place online. I know with my own friends most of my daily interactions take place online until I go out later in the evening.
As we drive more children to participate in web-based socializing we are suddently perpetuating what has already begun to occur. I wonder if this leads to a world in which children will learn to connect almost completely online. If you want to learn more about the impact of having our children spend so much time online, I highly recommend the Frontline special, “Growing Up Online.” Do you think we should limit our childrens’ online activity? Won’t less computer interaction at a young age increase creativity?
January 25th, 2008 at 9:34 am
First of all, that Frontline special was eye opening and very enlightening, thanks for pointing that out Nick.
Secondly, I do really think that a certain amount of interaction with technology and the Web is ok for some children. But the issue comes when there is no regulation of the time online and what the children interact with.
It needs to be stressed that the Internet and the computer are tools, not the be all and end all of socializing and all fun. Develop people, not plugs.