If you’re a parent, you may want to consider getting a Facebook page in the new year. That’s advice from Kathleen Culver, a professor at UW School of Journalism & Mass Communication. “I really do encourage all of the parents . . . of children in their teens or younger, anyone who has a person living in their home who has a Faceboo account, you should also have a Facebook account, because you need to know how it works,” says Culver. “It’s the way to be responsible, to figure out what great things social media can offer your kids, but also what threats and dangers there are that are out there. I think it’s very important to have that understanding of the medium.”
As for other age groups, Culver says somewhere in the neighborhood of seventy five percent of 18-to-25 year olds are using social networks. What about grandparents? She says social networking usage is less than ten percent of those 65 or older. “It’s very interesting to watch some of those older users get into the space, and try to adjust to the different ethics that are in play there,” Culver says. “What it means to have a friend, and what the lingo is, and at what point it sort of becomes creepy stalking to follow your grandkids, or your nieces and nephews on-line.”
Bob Hague (:65) AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:65 MP3)