Is the internet good for you?

Just came across a short but sweet video by Howard Rheingold, an American academic and author who has had his finger on the internet's pulse for a long time and has some interesting answers about whether or not we should be teaching about, or learning about social media. By which he means the new web stuff like Facebook and Myspace.

The two word answer is 'it depends' - on who learns how to use them and what they choose to do with what they learn. The slightly longer answer in his video suggests to me that whilst the technology can be used as a positive tool for change we can't rely on the people who adopt technologies quickest to know how best to put it to that use. For Rheingold that points to 'teachers' or educators. For me it is about supporting community organisations who have built trust in the communities they are part of and who therefore understand their needs.