Tuesday 5 May 2009

Media speculation, social networking, political agendas

There's been rather a lot of hot air spewed into the ether recently about the risks of using social networking sites and the harm it can do to students.

As I'm in the middle of marking A level coursework and preparing my Media students for their exams I've watched but not commented so far, as I wanted time to make a considered response.

Thankfully, the excellent Bill Thompson has done it for me, writing on the BBC website.

His informative and factual report analyses the data that's been used by the Press to suggest that Facebook use can result in lower grades. The article makes for fascinating reading, not least because it highlights the degree to which media outlets can become quickly hostile to communication methods that threaten existing and future audiences.