Digital Story Tellers - The Issues of Social Networking for Children

This research focuses upon the need for adults to recognise the importance of digital online social story telling of children.
The research collated views of Early Years Practitioners, children and parents regarding the issues of social networking, in
doing so highlighted the need for parents and educators to understand the implications for this and be able to facilitate a
way which meets the social and emotional needs of children. This research leads on from the work of De Souza and Dick
(2009) and Livingstone and Brake (2010). An appreciative inquiry approach has been adopted for this research, rather than
consider the negative impact on social networks for children, which has been widely acknowledged. The approach considers
the work of McNiff and Whitehead (2009) to support this. A positive perspective was taken in the design and construction of
this research. In seeking the perspectives of children, early years professionals and parents all ethical considerations and
permissions have been sort, in accordance with BERA (2011). Children as young as five have presence in social networks this
may be independently, or via secondary networks of siblings or parents. Little acknowledgement is given to 'backdoor' social
networks which are predominately platforms used for gaming technologies. Implication for this and the way which social
networking is currently being used, how it could be used gives rise to question and challenge the curriculum for children in
the 21st century and to consider how safeguards and awareness can become an embedded part of an early years
curriculum.