Blog Post 6

Personally, I do not have a wide range of knowledge when it comes to Twitter. This is perhaps due to my little experience and exposure to this social networking cite. I do not have a Twitter account opened nor do the majority of my friends. My experience with Twitter has been so minimal that I am able to count the number of times I have visited Twitter online on one hand. In a society focusing on the increase of dependency on the digital media, perhaps it is time to break out of my shell and give Twitter a try. However, there is part of me that hesitates to embark into the world of Twitter mania. I am not quite assured of its purpose as a sound social media site. In fact, on the surface, Twitter appears to be merely a limb of the intricate Facebook anatomy, merely posting statuses and updating random friends and acquaintances regarding trivial adventures of the day or thoughts and opinions that could not be repressed. However, after reading “Twitter Literacy” by Howard Rheingold, I am determined to view Twitter in a new light with an open mind. After reading the article, I believe that Twitter presents a plethora of positive facets to the world of journalism. This cite enables the user to practice his or her first amendment right to freedom of speech by freely expressing  political or social opinions to a community of readers, thus creating a bound through the written word. However, the power of freedom of speech equipped to the users of Twitter can be misused and manipulated as in any site on the internet. 21^st Century literary skills tend to be overlooked when teaching computer skills in an academic environment. Most high school and elementary school teachers have little experience and a low level of 21^st century literacy due to the fact that they are new to this language developed around the digital media. Since this new development cannot be taught properly in most academic environments, the majority of students simply utilize their own experience on the internet and teach themselves, which can potentially be teeming with flaws.