The Internet - 1, Cyber-bullying - 0

Another brief follow up to the cyber-bullying piece can be found here

A signifcant and growing amount of research is showing that online social networks, despite the negative consequences/drawbacks associated with their use (the existence of which pre-dates the Internet), are positive contributors to society, and to the student experience. Yet, since this research is new, and not as robust or sensational as stories about cyber-harassment and stalking, few people are aware. This heightens the knee-jerk reaction most people have when they think about Myspace, Facebook and Internet communication in general. The cons of online social networking have appeared on skits on Saturday Night Live, MadTV, the plots of various Law and Order episodes, and spawned a series of NBC specials entitled "To Catch a Predator"

What we're missing is discussions about Thomas Friedman's work, "The WOrld is Flat", which discusses the benefits to all societies of being globally interconnected, or Mark Granovetter's "The Strength of Weak Ties", which highlights the importance of connectivity on a more micro-level. When we apply this to students at any level, and certainly when we talk to students themselves, it's clear that online social networks are as fundamental to their experiences (on the whole) as cellphones and email were for Generation X (a fine distinction by some standards), or the telephone in every residence hall room and household for earlier generations of students.

What are some interesting points of research that we feel are important to pursue in this emerging field of study?