Thing 18

I think teachers need to know how social networking works because so many of their students will be using a social networking site.  I think there are many positives about social networking.  We can connect with old friends, talk to other teachers about teaching techniques, post pictures of projects that are being worked on, and even post homework assignments.  The negatives I can see in these sites are potentional bullying between students, inappropriate pictures, teachers being accused of things they did not do, and parents not seeing pictures that teachers post and not liking them or finding them inappropriate.  This goes for Twitter and Facebook.  I actually deleted my Facebook because if I am going to be in schools, I do not want any pictures from my teen years or early 20's to be posted on my page and me tagged unwillingly.  What if a student saw that? Or a parent? That does not look good for a new teacher, even if the pictures aren't that bad.  What I see in a picture and what a student or parent may see are different things. 
I really do not like Twitter.  Having so many people updating about each and everything thing they do is honestly annoying.  I am just not into it.  What I do like is I can follow my favorite celebrities, and that is pretty cool.  The thing about that though, you have to be sure they are who they say they are and not just another fan.  So, to be sure, I check out their official websites and get where to follow them off of that. 
Facebook is ok.  I think it is great to be able to talk to friends and have their birthdays and anniversaries handy so I do not forget.  I think there are too many ways to get around the security features if you are smart enough to figure it out, or know someone who is.  But, it is all in all a good social networking place. 

I personally do not see myself using any of these for classroom use.  I think that would get too personal, and is not a good plan.