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Facebook is "educational", says US uni
Social networking addressing 'digital divide'

By Caroline McCarthy

Published: Monday 23 June 2008

Social networks like Facebook and MySpace have reputations as tools for procrastination but a new study from the University of Minnesota, US says contests this.

According to the study, social networks build beneficial technological, creative and communication skills, with researchers referring to social networks as "educational".

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Christine Greenhow, a learning technologies researcher from the University's College of Education and Human Development, said in a statement: "What we found was that students using social networking sites are actually practicing the kinds of 21st century skills we want them to develop to be successful today."

Greenhow added: "Students are developing a positive attitude towards using technology systems, editing and customising content and thinking about online design and layout. They're also sharing creative original work like poetry and film and practicing safe and responsible use of information and technology."

Social networks may also contribute to the fact that students from lower-income backgrounds are largely just as technologically proficient as their peers, contradicting parts of a 2005 study that detailed an economic "digital divide". According to the new study, a full 94 per cent of students use the internet, 82 per cent use it at home, and 77 per cent have social-networking profiles.

Data from the study was collected from pupils aged 16 to 18 across 12 schools in the US.