Web 2.0 and Parenting

Last week, several of us from Team GreatSchools went to the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco. The conference showcased the latest tools and highlighted how organizations and people are participating in the social media world.

The show echoed a central theme: Social media is …social! It’s about people -- how they connect, what they learn from each other, and what they do together.  One session reinforced this point with the title ‘It’s the people, stupid!’.

At GreatSchools, we’ve seen how social media can unlock the power of parents in guiding their kids’ education. We’ve seen it through ratings and reviews that help people find schools that are right for their kids. Through the collaborative and organic nature of social media as parents share intimate, personal stories, helping one another ensure that kids are on the right track in their education.

What is your opinion? Is Web 2.0 a boon or bust for parenting? Have social media sites like Facebook or MySpace helped you with your parenting challenges? Or do you feel that Social Media is no replacement for connecting the good ol’ fashioned way in the offline world?

What do you think?

Comments

[Victoria on April 23, 2009 at 01:47 AM]

I think that the most important think in this days is the information, so I think that is ok when we wind the answers of many questions that we have. So the parenting is something very special so :) we always must looking for a specialist, because every chilled is individual and he have a individual state! I am sorry i will be happy to understand me correctly!

[Angel on April 23, 2009 at 07:48 AM]

I think sites like GreatSchools help, because in a fairly anonymous way, we can check in, post, and find out that no matter what we're going through that we're not alone. On the other hand, I find people far too willing to share personal details (pictures, identifying information) on sites like MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook and it is a danger to both themselves and their kids.

[Dave Steer on May 01, 2009 at 10:12 AM]

Hi all - Great to read your thoughts. Like Victoria, we see the importance of using social media to both relay information and enable people to have conversations around it. A powerful example of this is the how information is being shared and discussed around the swine flu -- what it is, how to talk to your kids about it, how to prepare in the event of school closings.

Angel also highlights an important point around anonymity. Yes, some people love the full disclosure that comes with the social web; however, when dealing with sensitive parenting issues, we also see that many people want more privacy.

[buy aion kinah on June 17, 2009 at 11:46 PM]

I think that the most important think in this days is the information, so I think that is ok when we wind the answers of many questions that we have. So the parenting is something very special so :)