[blog] What role should adults play within online teen spaces?
Global Kids was asked by the MacArthur Foundation to curate their new fantastic blog, Spotlight: Blogging the Field of Digital Media and Learning, during this last week of the year.
We asked the following provocative questions, recruited four teens to start the discussion, then opened it for public discussion: "What can adults offer to teen spaces? What does their presence take away? When is it not safe to have adults and teens interact? When are teens ONLY safe when adults are present?"
The conversation has been very illuminating and can be followed here. You can also read it below.
At the same time, Second Life watchers have been blogging the blog (is there a word for that yet?) and starting their OWN conversations about it. The ones we have found appear at:
- Debated at TSL resident Katharine's blog, amongst teens.
- Discussed at Second Life Insider.
- The Official Second Life Educator Listserv discussed it here and here.
- Discussed at Totally Wired here.
- Discussed at Mistaken Goals: Where Student Affairs and Technology Meet.
- Mentioned at Stephen's Web here.
- Mentioned at Young Adult Libraries Services Association here.
If you haven’t heard, Second Life is an online virtual world which saw its two millionth member sign-up just this month. Within Second Life, there is a teen-only environment, as opposed to the main grid, composed of roughly forty thousand residents. Other than the adults who run Second Life, this is a teen-only environment. However, there is one exception. Outside organizations, like Global Kids, can purchase a private “island” which teens can visit; however, adults, who must go through a background check, can not leave these islands.
In this context, we now present four comments that are specifically about the role of adults from Global Kids with TSL. However, other youth have been invited to join the conversation and broaden it from one specifically about TSL to all online youth spaces.
What can adults offer to teen spaces? What does their presence take away? When is it not safe to have adults and teens interact? When are teens ONLY safe when adults are present? Please read the four comments from following TSL residents and post your own thoughts below (please identify whether you are a teen or an adult - an adult is writing this introduction).
Mariel Voyunicef
The reason why I think Global Kids’ adults should stay on the teen grid is very simple: in times like these in which the youth have little contact with adults outside of an academic contexs, we have to take advantage of every single chance to establish a connection with them. As youth, we need to be the bridge between adults and upcoming generations by learning from them - especially on a place that is openly related to activism. There are plenty of places where teens can be alone.
Cheesepuff Barnard
I believe that the role of adults in online youth spaces, if not necessary, should be eliminated completely. Adults have plenty of ways to connect with kids, so why take away the last bit of dignity TSL has managed to keep after being treated so unfairly. I wouldn’t normally complain, but this really is the last straw. If adults are going to be allowed in even two TSL islands, why not let kids be allowed in two main grid [adult] islands? I realize there are legal problems, but I also realize there are legal solutions. Pre-scanning all adult entry. Supervising it with guards, chat and IM supervisors, and robotic chat and IM recorders for when no one is there to manually monitor. There are SO many things to learn on the main grid. This is a bit like the Revolutionary War. A mainland, a colony, and somebody up there trying to take advantage of the colony.
Lucky Figtree
I was very surprised to be asked to write an essay about whether or not Global Kids should continue everything they are doing within Teen Second Life. A good portion of my Second Life experience has been spent working, and learning with them. I can’t imagine not having the GK leaders in-world anymore. Global Kids has reached some amazing firsts for the Teen Grid, and I know that they can continue to do so. There are many teens that think of the Global Kids Islands as a second home (me included). The GK leaders are always throwing out new and interesting ways to become involved. In my eyes, teens are drawn to the island to have a fun time. The GK Leaders almost always have a contest going, and I believe the teens enjoy being challenged in such ways. I believe that Global Kids is truly connecting with the teens that want to learn. They have done so much to educate, and teach; but at the same time allow the teens to have a fun time. Its a great way to learn, and its obviously working. I could not imagine the teen grid without the famous Global Kid dance parties. It just wouldn’t be the same.
Relk Akula
I view Global Kids as a despicable attack on TSL’s existence as a place for teen’s to take a break from real life and be able to have a world entirely grown by them. I also view GK as an attempt to impose their well-meaning, but still imposing beliefs on others, and to mold personalities. Also GK seems likely to be spawned by the same people who create ESRBs (the rating board that attacks games with little detailed descriptions), MPAAs (the movie rating organization prone to giving ratings for speaking up about issues) and probably RIAAs (the music industry association known for blocking free speech and creativity) too.
