Lessons Learned from Creating a Social Networking Site for More than Just Socializing
Filed at 4:53 pm on September 28, 2009 • Leave a comment
Kids will flock to a global social networking site but it takes planning to get them to stay and learn something. TakingITGlobal, Global Kids, and the Asia Society report on their recent pilot program.
In November 2007, three organizations set out to develop a social network for youth around the world “on global issues that matter to you.” Youth Media Exchange (YMEX.org) in many respects was a success. About 1,700 youth signed on from China, India, South Korea, and North America for the pilot. The most active were young women between ages 14 and 19. The exchange was lively, and kids tackled a wide variety of global issues. However, along the way, the organizers learned a few things about developing a social network with a purpose.
Like any social media site, YMEX allowed users to share ideas, upload videos or other media, and chat. However, YMEX also wanted to spur learning and encourage kids to think critically about global issues. Through quests and other content, users embarked on a “common learning journey.” Peer mentors were on hand to guide youth in learning about a topic, and the contests, focused discussions, and quests on the site were all designed with a clear purpose. The site required a little self-motivation on the part of kids to learn more deeply about a topic, and in turn, kids could contribute their own content.
Lessons Learned
• The activities still need to be fun or kids will tune out. They also must have built-in incentives.
• Discovery-based experiences must be transparent in their ultimate goals. Kids want to know what they will learn and the steps needed to achieve the goal.
• Display earned points or other rewards clearly and site-wide.
• Some self-directed learning is good, but kids also need explicit directions and guidance to walk them through the process of creating original content and other digital media skills.
• Spurring critical thinking requires deliberate design choices. Rather than providing a generic “comments” option for rating a video or other content, for example, YMEX asked, How is this media effective?
• There must be exemplar material as well as enough “expert” material to guide new members and set the standard for future content.
• Kids’ interests need to be deliberately sustained and cultivated. Organizers sent personal emails to kids who participated more deeply. They featured exemplary youth-produced content. They sent periodic News & Updates.
• A broad issue base can draw members but not necessarily sustain engagement. As members become more active on an issue, they need more support and will likely move on to an even more niche-based network to meet their needs.
• Because not everyone has equal access to cameras, editing software, and other digital tools, it is important to provide other opportunities to collaborate, such as helping to conceptualize projects or rating and discussing content.
• Learning on social networks is not always measured by the number of videos produced or other countable outcomes. The creation process is as valuable as the end product itself.
For the full report, go here.
Youth Media Exchange (ymex.org) is a social network that aims to help young people around the world become creative producers and critical consumers of digital media about global issues. The work is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
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