Whilst it has been offered elsewhere that young people have become “digital natives” empirical studies suggest that their grasp of the mechanisms and principles which mediate the flow of information into and out of the digital environment are far from transparent to them.
Like all technologies the emerging Web 2.0 environment needs to be encountered in a structured and scaffolded way if the true value of its power to support learning is to be realised.
[The school curriculum] … should support them [students] in developing their skills in using social media and understanding the responsibilities which form the necessary complement to the opportunities they offer.
Author: Adrian Mee, Institute of Education, University of London (2013)