By Paul Walsh
Star Tribune
06/20/08 9:19 AM PT

University of Minnesota researchers say they have discovered educational benefits of social networking sites such as MySpace.

The same study also found that low-income students are in many ways just as technologically savvy as their counterparts. The university says this goes against what results from previous studies have suggested.


Urban Teens

The information was collected over six months this year from students, ages 16 to 18, in 13 urban high schools in the Midwest and released Friday by the university.

The study found that of the students observed:

* 94 percent use the Internet.

* 82 percent go online at home.

* 77 percent have a profile on a social networking site.

When asked what they learn from using social networking sites, the students listed technology skills at the top, then creativity, being open to new or diverse views and communication skills.

"Students using social networking sites are actually practicing the kinds of 21st century skills we want them to develop to be successful today," said Christine Greenhow, a learning technologies researcher in the university's College of Education and Human Development and lead investigator of the study. "Students are developing a positive attitude towards using technology systems, editing and customizing content and thinking about online design and layout. They're also sharing creative original work like poetry and film and practicing safe and responsible use of information and technology.


Lower-Income College Hopefuls

"The Web sites offer tremendous educational potential," she said.

The study also goes against previous findings from the Pew Research Center in 2005 that suggest a "digital divide," where low-income students are technologically impoverished. The Pew study found that Internet usage by teenagers from families earning US$30,000 or below was limited to 73 percent, 21 percentage points below what the University of Minnesota research shows.

The students participating in the university study were from families whose incomes were at or below the county median income (at or below $25,000) and were taking part in Admission Possible, an after-school program aimed at improving college access for low-income youth.

-Via MacNewsWorld.com

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=TrendyDNA (Tony from ) adds:

Where does DeviantArt fit into this? Where does the largest online art community fit into when it comes to teaching real world skills to the ever growing young population of users that are growing up with the site? I have been on DeviantArt since 2002 under multiple screen names, out growing my first few, and finally staying in this one since I created it. DeviantArt has been the only online community where I feel like I'm at home on the internet. I can probably say that there are plenty of other users who feel the same way.

I have watched DeviantArt grow up over the years perfecting the design and features of the site, adding great programs like the shop and more recently films/animations. And then eventually the expected and much awaited groups systems. The shiny new v6 layout that just came out, is the best example of how much the internet has grown up. Myspace and Facebook have just remade there layouts as well. Myspace and Facebook have added widgets to there systems, Google now owns YouTube, and runs the search system on Myspace. DeviantArt will eventually be doing similar things. Learning from the mistakes of it's sibling online communities that receive more public attention, because of how they sold out to large corporations. While MySpace, Facebook, googles youtube, and linked-in learn from trial and error what to do. DeviantArt has taken it slow and have examples to work from.

I can't wait to see what DeviantArt does to expand it's community, and what they will do to take responsibility for the development of it's users on the site who are growing up online. There are plenty of possibilities and the economy of social networks are getting closer to the tipping point of working with it's community as if it is it's own society. Myspace, Facebook, YouTube, and Linked-in are being run and developed by the older generations who are designing these networks based on needs they would like to fill. But do they actually understand from the younger and average users perspective how these networks are impacting the learning and development of it's users? Will they wake up and work with younger minds on developing, new features for the needs of the younger generations. Networks will soon be evolving into new ways to attract users and keep them active. Developing and applying cohesive knowledge to make the community prosper as a whole, and as individuals who are more than just a screen name, and an online identity.

As a society we must keep its order, and plan for it's future. That also applies to online networks that build the first world wide society. Expect DeviantArt to take care of it's users, and to educate it's society of artist to be the best that they can be. FaceBook, and linked-in are communities that focus on building there directory's of students and professionals. To fill the connections sector of a society and that has been very important need for all of our generations. Myspace, and youtube started there network by focusing on entertainment, and by making the first network to allow it's users to customize and express themselves on there own connected personal webpage/channel of sorts. DevaintArt filled the Art and creative gap, and has recently allowed a decent amount of personalization of there page through journal CSS. How will DeviantArt fill the widget and corporate gap that the other networks have developed, and will it be more planned out and developed by learning from the pitfalls and eureka moments from the other networks.

Will DeviantArt help to further educate its users on there creative endeavors? Will DeviantArt welcome opportunities to become a lifestyle?

What are your thoughts about the evolving social networks and it's growing younger user base? How will we deal with the younger generations who are growing up on social networks? Is it time to take the next step and provide the users with specific life skills? Can we as a community design an online society that will work with and develop the communication, financial, and creative skills of an artist (That in the end they can transition into the real world)?

Am I the only one out there that thinks like this...


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=DemoReel Is working on great things, watch us and give us your support. =TrendyDNA loves to analyze social networks, ventures, and the trends of it's generations, so voice your opinion here and visit him in #DemoReel.

Fav this to show your support of our evolving society on deviantart.
And definitly offer suggestions and critique.

The internet is the world society.