Are social Internet sites like Myspace creating more cliques in schools?
Every school has its segregated cliques of students today—too many, in my opinion. Cliques can lead to isolation, feuds, discrimination, and prejudice. Students learn to judge others based on what group they belong to, rather than who they are as individuals.
People often identify themselves as part of certain cliques on social Internet sites. And sometimes, the e-dialogues that go on between students over instant messaging can be surprisingly offensive. Myspace-users may identify specific other cliques—or even certain people in other cliques—and gossip about them or insult them. Also, people often just have other members of their clique in their "Top 10 Friends."
I can’t help but think sometimes that Internet sites like Myspace are contributing to the problem of clique segregation in schools. These Web sites offer students a networking system where discrimination is not patrolled, and students are free to identify themselves and choose their friends freely. I fear that many students may not just be using these sites to build friendships and chat; they may be using them to insult other students, gossip, discriminate, and deepen the rifts between cliques that are already so uncomfortably palpable in our schools today.
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Couldn't agree more. Not only that, but kids on MySpace tend to seem extravagantly radical in all shapes and forms. They say that "This is the real me", why it obviously isn't. They're so excited to be doing what they want and identifying themselves as they want that they go overboard just to make a point.
Resclef
You are attributing to the effect what is the fault of the cause. In other words, you are blaming "social networking sites," which directly benefit from "cliquish" behavior, for the cliquish behavior--which is caused by a particular kind of mindset.
In actuality, it's "group identity" that should bear the blame for this "problem." People don't see themselves as individuals, but rather as members of a "group." If they stray from that "group identity," they are no longer valuable.
Tackle that, and you'll be tackling the real problem.
Thanks for the comment--you're so right. Unfortunately, the whole trend of people identifying with groups rather than individuals is a huge issue, perhaps too huge to fit into one blog post. Instead, we who seem to dissent this trend try to attack the problem piece by piece; element by element. We try and address its causes and effects, such as the media, pop culture, social internet sites, etc.
I completely agree with you. I just wish that "group identity" was more easily "tackled."
I feel we're doing our part by not being a part of it, anyway.
Gracias otra vez!
Allison
"Be the change you want to see in the world" ~Mahatma Gandhi
as a proud user of myspace and a senior in high school i can truthfully say that the influence of [myspace] has nothing to add to cliques in high school. first of all, sure, all school has cliques and mine is no exception. but there are not exaggerated clique "violence" or "hatred" in my school. everyone had their own friends and everyone respects eachother's individuality. even among a group of friends everyone's different. we're not all clones, we learn to love eachother for who they are.
and [myspace] ohh goodness, it's a place where people can RECONNECT with each other. for example i have families across the world..literally, i have family in california, ohio, taiwan, china, france, etc. and MYSPACE is another way we are able to be in touch. there is no way in hell im able to call my cousins in taiwan everyday so..we use myspace. it's a helpful tool to keep track of everyone. and people use offensive language on myspace..well heck they have that in MOVIES too! and MUSIC! and ooh how about this one..CORPORATE AMERICA! dude! it's freedom of speech man!
the more important thing we should be concern about is teaching the kids in school to respect eachother and that people have the freedom to be what they want. if they want listen to gothic music..then go right ahead! we don't have to label them merely because of their taste in music, fashion, or opinions. it's because of those things that makes everyone different. or else everyone would have blond hair 6 feet tall, blue eyes. why blame a WEBSITE for having cliques in school.
there are cliques EVERYWHERE at work, at church, at the park. if we blame myspace for these problems why don't we blame facebook? or xanga? sometimes people like having friends who have the same taste as them. is that wrong? dude! just respect it. =]
ooh..ps. you can't have a top [10], it's only 4 or 8 or 12 or 16 or 20 or 24
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Hey, thanks for the comment.
I never meant to BLAME Myspace for being the direct cause of cliques; I was merely posing the question. From my own personal experience, it has seemed that people "tag" themselves heavily on social Internet sites. That's all.
It doesn't sound like that has been your experience, and that's perfectly fine. I'm not demonizing Myspace; it is probably an awesome tool, as you mention, for staying in touch with people all over.
I wish that "teaching the kids in school to respect each other" (as you said) was easier.
Thanks again,
Allison
"Be the change you want to see in the world" ~Mahatma Gandhi
The cliques argument comes again, however in this case I don't think that you can even try to argue for a patrolling of how students chose to identify themselves or what friends they associate themselves with. Sure a social networking site may deepen some divides, but it is not always the case. If you ask me the real problem is the ability to create an anonymous and apathetic identity of which no one is completely sure if it is true.
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I believe that people who "indetify" themselves are actually posers trying to fit in. It's like a gangster going around saying "I'm a gangster look at me!" I don't think that Myspace has contributed more to the already existing clique problem, it's just an outlet for kids to become attention whores.
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I can see how MySpace may be a possible contribution to cliques, but I wouldn't say it's a major one from my experience. It may have more influence over other schools, but I honestly will say that I’ve never found cliques to be a problem at my school. Of course, my school has its share of cliques, but the entire student body is generally accepting to the students as individuals. The stereotypical clique has members that have a strict commonness and less tolerance for people outside of the clique, right? Or maybe my stereotype is too extreme…
In any case, I find that my school’s “nerds,” “goths,” “preps”, etc. often mingle pleasantly with one another just as if they were each part of a single clique that incorporates all groups: my high school. I think it’s safe to say that MySpace is used by the majority of my fellow classmates but that it really doesn’t encourage them to stay strictly within obsessive/conformist groups. It’s main use, from my observations, are for keeping in touch with each other. I would be surprised to hear otherwise. :)
Also, I think that if MySpace ever is used to promote cliquish activities, you have to keep in mind that the tool (the site) could just as well be used for nicer things and the students, themselves, should be the ones to blame for their disuse of the site. Know what I mean? :)
JUST TO COMMENT ON THE VERY FIRST POST. I THINK THAT CLIQUES TODAY HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY FROM WHAT THEY WERE 10 YEARS AGO. ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL THAT SEGREGATION THAT COMES FROM US BEING UNCOMFORTABLE, I FEEL THAT CLIQUES HAVE "INTEGRATED OTHER CLIQUES". WHAT I MEAN BY THIS IS FOR EXAMPLE, AT LUNCH I'LL SEE "JOCKS" HANGING OUT WITH THE "SKATERS" AND "PREPS" HANGING OUT WITH THE "OUTCASTS". PART OF IT I THINK IS BECAUSE OF SOCIETY'S MORE OPENNESS AND WILLINGNESS TO KNOW OTHER PEOPLE. I AGREE WITH YOU WHEN YOU SAY THAT SITES LIKE MYSPACE ARE USED TO DISCRIMINATE OTHERS, BUT MOST OF THE TIME THAT IS HOW THEY VENT OUT THEIR TRUE FEELINGS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE BALLS TO SAY IT THAT PERSON'S FACE. TO ME, THE MAIN REASON WHY ONE PERSON'S CLIQUE TAKES UP THE TOP 10 IS BECAUSE THAT IS WHO THEY RELATE TO. PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ARE COMFORTABLE AND DO NOT CARE FOR CLIQUES, CHOOSE FRIENDS WHO HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS AS THEY DO. ONCE AGAIN, AT MY LUNCH I HANG OUT WITH ALL KINDS OF KIDS. I KICK IT WITH JOCKS, PREPS, NERDS, THE POTHEADS AND WHOEVER. NOW HOW I CONSIDER THOSE KIDS WHO DISCRIMINATE AND BULLY OTHER STUDENTS, THEY ARE BULLIES OR EVEN GANGS (IF YOU BELIEVE IT). THEY HAVE NO LIFE AND ARE CONSTANTLY OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE WHICH IS WHY THEY MUST PUT OTHERS DOWN TO LIFT THEM UP. I THINK THAT IF EVERYONE WERE TO GET OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE AND TRULY BE WHO THEY ARE, CLIQUES WOULD NOT BE SO "SEGREGATED."
scene is the only clique i really see connecting to internet.. or myspace.... bc on myspace.. everyone puts up a picture revealing one eye... or none.. some kind of arial view of the body... you know. that became cool.then came tyyping lyyke thiss... the whole double thing. && with the ands like that. then bow ties. polka dots and dinosaurs. skirts with tights. yeh.... that fad started to grow mostly over the summer... last year? maybe..? now there's a million of these lil kids. myspace. credits
You are right, sometimes I don't know who starts the rumors and sh*t, and I really wonder who's doing the backstabbing, and then the cycle never stops.
70% of the time, esp. in high school, another "friend" on this site can easily take what most people hold dear, identity and reputation. Backstabbing and even hacking are all too common for some clicks. I know a clique in my school who takes passwords and rumors 24/7 on the "M" word. Most in my school don't do this, but it gets too annoying. This causes major rejection, enough for one that I know switched schools or press charges. Your secure mentality is gambled using this site.
I believe teenagers are prone to forming cliques and social groups. It's not necessarily a bad thing, however. Social groups in high school allow a student to find his or her identity, somewhat, in a time of development. Unfortunately, that identity is usually the same as that of the others of the group.
Myspace: I have mixed feelings on the subject. It is a good thing in many ways. It does allow for contact between friends, long distance. It is a way to meet new people. On the other hand, it is grounds for social torment and stupidity. It is a dual-edged sword. What happens there, however, would happen in school, the same. It's all a matter of context.
I would have to disagree with you. Yes Myspace is an enhanced cliquish community with glamour pic galore. But as a highschool senior, and a frequent Myspace user, I'd have to say that MySpace Has no part in the segregation with cliques at school. Futhermore, cliques are not just a highschool based thing, cliques have been, and will last thru out everyones entire life. Human nature is the need to be part of something [even if people act like they don't have that need], a certain clique is just being apart of something they identify with. people who have a problem with cliques, are people who havnt found their own to be apart of[even if they claim to be rebels, one of akind, loners] look at greeks in college, are they not just cliques that certain type of people belong to? are people not left out socially in college as they are in highschool.
-gw
I would agree and disagree. Sites like myspace do cause some problems, but some of those problems are associated with the internet itself and the fact that the users are mainly teenagers. Myspace is one of the few ways for me to get a hold of some of my long distance friends, so I'd say it evens out in the end.
Personally I think that Myspace itslef isnt bad, it's just the fact that people abuse it. People are the ones that create cliques and if we dont abuse myspace, then there is no problem.
I wouldn't say there are so much as "cliques" on myspace, but there's definitly more of an opportunity to be hateful towards others...
It's all just because there is a sort of stigma about stating your opinions out in the open, so rather than risk being hated in public, they can use the internet as a medium for spreading their hatered.
Then again, I am a frequent myspace user... I think it's a great way to find people you haven't seen since kindergarten (actually they found me- it's really awesome catching up with them), or talking to people you wouldn't normally get to know for one reason or another. This doesn't mean though that I think people ought to forget their real-world social lives in order to turn to a virtual one.
Otherwise though, I think your blog is touching on a topic which ought to be thought about and not just by parents.
~Shelby
I don't see too big of a problem with cliques, as long as violence doens't result. Cliques do exist in the real world. Everyone seems to think that once you graduate high school, you suddenly step into this world where everyone loves each other, doesn't judge each other, and hangs out together no matter how different they are. This isn't the case.
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