Email Dead, or Just Resting?

A recent article at CNET details teen preferences for communication tools such as text messaging, Facebook and MySpace. Not surprisingly, most of the teens interviewed stated that they don’t bother with email unless communicating with adults. The primary method of connecting with friends and partners is social networking sites. What’s most interesting to note is that the kids interviewed were teen Internet entrepreneurs; many of whom have already established popular online networks and business projects. From the article:

“If I’m talking to any friends it’s through a social network,” said Asheem Badshah, a teenaged president of Scriptovia.com, an essay-sharing site that launched this summer. “For me even IM died, and was replaced by text messaging. Facebook will replace e-mail for communicating with certain people.”

I think this article make an important points for educators: We need to be mindful of how our students view the web as a living social institution. While many of our are still trying to wrap our heads around the sheer volume of online “electric” print and “old-school” email communications, our students are engaged, full-tilt, in a social communication revolution where they are in the driver’s seat. What do you think? Is email dead, or just resting? Comments?


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