Amy Pellettieri & Karen Berman


Communication and learning requires the ability to read, write, and acquire information. Today, technology requires a type of literacy called digital literacy. Within communication, digital literacy involves the individual to read and write using digital information, such as the Internet. It involves engaging in obtaining information online and using these sources to communicate. Individuals learn how to find, manage, and edit digital information as well.

Web 2.0 refers to Internet services such as wikis, social networking sites, blogs, and other ways individuals can interact online. Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube are ways that individuals use digital literacy to communicate and express themselves. These are sources of social online communities that many adolescents use.

Although most people are familiar with Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube, it is important to go over what each of them does exactly. Facebook is a website that has really expanded itself in multiple ways. It allows for people to communicate with each other in various ways by doing things such as writing on someone’s personal profile, adding a bumper sticker, or having their friends take personality quizzes on them. It demonstrates how the Internet can encompass so much literacy to its users, presented in nontraditional forms. Facebook has become an epidemic that encourages new forms of communication using Web 2.0.


MySpace is similar to Facebook in the sense that it allows people to communicate with each other via Web 2.0, but it also allows up and coming musical artists and individuals wanting to be discovered and present themselves to potential fans through online blogs. It is a free way for people to network and get their names familiar to the rest of the world.

YouTube is unlike Facebook and MySpace. YouTube has become a way for people to get their “fifteen minutes of fame” via Web 2.0. Anyone can post all kinds of videos on YouTube. This site also helps keep people informed of current events around the world. YouTube allows for education as well because it shows videos on various topics such as play therapy or autism. You can search an endless amount of topics and find a related video on YouTube. Even though these three forms of digital literacy have both similarities and differences, it is imperative to recognize the significant impact they have had on our Web 2.0 centered culture.




FACEBOOK
Facebook is a form of digital literacy that allows its members to socialize and express themselves in this online community. Anyone can join Facebook. Once an individual is signed up as a member, they can invite other members on Facebook to be their 'friends', just like MySpace. Facebook is a form of communication through the Internet. You can personalize your own page and add applications so your Facebook friends and other members of Facebook can get to know more about you. This constitutes as a form of digital literacy because it is a form of social networking through technology.

There are so many forms of Facebook communication that members can participate in. One form is the news-feed where Facebook updates you on the activity of your friends on the site (writing on their walls, posting pictures, changing their profiles, relationships, etc.) A new form of communication that is beginning to become more popular is online chatting through Facebook, much like instant messaging. Messages can also be sent through Facebook in an email format. This allows members to communicate with anyone around the world at any time. Members can also communicate on each others ‘walls.’ This is information that anyone each member is 'friends' with can see. These are just a few of the many examples of communication members are encouraged to participate in.


Digital literacy is also the act of acquiring information online. Through Facebook, members can express themselves and gain information about others through their profile by sharing their pictures, jobs, interests, favorite movies and music, TV shows they enjoy, something personal about them, and more. Members can also gain information about upcoming events they or their friends are invited to along with posting their own events. Birthday notifications let each individual know when their friends’ birthdays are coming up. Each member also gets email notifications letting them know what is new on Facebook, messages they have received, new posts of their wall, comments on photos, friend requests, and more. Another form of information members can gain is from support groups through applications such as those to raise money for a disease or campaign. There are so many sources of information that members can obtain, these are just a few.

Facebook, as a popular form of digital literacy, allows members to read, write, and gain information. Facebook began as a social networking system offered to a limited amount of college campus and has now globalized to offer its services to the entire world. Their social online community encourages its members to express themselves and broaden their forms of communication. It provides these individuals with a convenient way to keep in touch with friends and extend these friendships around the world.

Globalization influences Facebook in the way its members communicate with each other around the world. This is a convenient and affordable way to communicate because members do not have to call each other from other countries. In addition to the forms of communication between members, Facebook addresses issues going on around the world through groups and causes. Individuals can support and donate money to these causes along with gaining more information about these various topics. The process of getting the whole world on Facebook is huge. This social networking site began by being only open to a few universities and has gradually expanded to invite anyone, anywhere in the world. Facebook has globalized as it has extended its services around the world.




YouTube
YouTube is a website for video sharing where users can upload, view, and share video clips. Anyone who has access to the Internet can use this website.

Forms of You Tube Communication: post videos, watch videos that other people posted, search videos on a topic, and comment on videos


There are both educational opportunities and challenges that have arisen from the developments of YouTube. This internet site is a form of expression for many people. It is also a way to find out information across many topics. YouTube allows people to work with technology and become more comfortable using the internet. It also gets students working on the computer and excited about using sites such as this one. It promotes different forms of communication and allows people to find new ways to express themselves through technology. YouTube teaches students how to take videos and upload them on an internet as well. It also allows for communication through commenting on people's videos and sending messages through these videos. Students are able to learn about current events on YouTube. There is a picture below of the plane crashing into the Twin Towers in NYC. This is a perfect example of how students can use the internet to become informed of recent happenings. Digital literacy is an important skill to have because it allows people to learn about what is going on in the world and keep up with current events.

Along with all of these opportunities, YouTube brings along several challenges as well. One problem is that people are putting up videos without the permission of others involved as well as inappropriate videos. For example, there have even been videos uploaded of girls bullying and beating each other up. A challenge is that children can watch these inappropriate videos and it can be very stressful for them. YouTube is also a way for individuals to expose themselves in a negative way that can get them into trouble. People can get the wrong idea and begin stalking others by watching their videos. The people in the videos do not know who is watching their videos either. YouTube may not always be used for the best purposes and people can be using it to humuliate others.

There are several ways in which globalization influences this issue. First, it provides a way to communicate easily with people all over the world. Videos can be posted in any languages and in all parts of the world (as long as technology allows). The process of getting the whole world involved in using YouTube is ongoing. Individuals can access YouTube anywhere in the world with Internet access. YouTube is open to people of all ages, bringing individuals together in finding joy through sharing videos, thousands of miles away.

MySpace:
Like facebook, MySpace allows people to personalize their profiles and network with one another. This site is open to everyone. Member's profile can have as much or as little information as the individuals want, but it allows for one to express themselves through this online community.


Forms of MySpace Communication:
MySpace is just another venue for people to communicate on the Internet, much like Facebook. You can invite other members as 'friends' in the same way as Facebook. MySpace is unique because of its opportunties in gaining more information about new music. People can also advertise their own bands on MySpace and try to become discovered. MySpace is also different from facebook in the ways that people can personalize their profiles. Some members even have slideshows of pictures of them and their favorite music playing on their page. MySpace has various applications that individuals can add if they perfer. This site has remained as a form of digital literacy and a way for people to communicate with each other through the Internet.


There are ways in which globalization has impacted MySpace as well. MySpace is a way to communicate easily with people all over the world because anyone with Internet access can become a member. MySpace is offered in many languages as well. It addresses issues going on throughout the world through groups and various blog postings. There is information on the election, which gets people involved and encourages them to take a stand. It also helps bands to gather a fan base from all over the world as they present their music on MySpace.

Educational Opportunities and Challenges

There are many educational opportunities and challenges that arise from the development of these sources of digital literacy. The opportunity these online sites provide is to encourage students to work with computers and forms of technology such as the Internet. Each online community promotes different forms of communication for students to work with along with getting them more comfortable with their email. Students can find ways to express themselves through technology as well. In addition to these benefits, they can practice uploading and editing pictures and videos. Facebook is also a sponsor of the election, causes, and awareness groups which will make today’s youth more knowledgeable on these topics. There are so many benefits to these online social communities, but there are also some challenges that have resulted.

These problems relate to activities across different areas of life through informal and formal contexts. Spending too much time on the computer has led to obesity, boredom, and loneliness. Students have begun to procrastinate when doing their school work or other important things in their daily lives. It causes for them to stay indoors versus getting them outside and active. Many students want to read fewer books as they spend more time in front of the computer. Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube has led students to pay less attention in school along with not having enough time to get things done. Lastly, Facebook and MySpace friendships are not a way to interact face-to-face with people, lacking a sense of true personal friendships.




References:

Author N/A. (2008). Digital Literacy. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from ICVET Promoting Emerging Practice.
Website: http://www.icvet.tafensw.edu.au/resources/digital_literacy.htm

Doering, A.,Beach, R., & O'Brien,D. (2007, October). Infusing Multimodal Tools and Digital Literacies into an English Education Program. English Education. 40 (1), 41-60. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from ProQuest database.