Social Media for Toddlers

Edutopia has an article on using social media, like Twitter and other similar sources, with toddlers and young elementary students.  My immediate thoughts when I began to read this article were "kids need to get outside and play instead of spending so much time on computers." and "Why in the world would a toddler need social media?".  However, after reading further I started to change my mind set. The author suggests that when I was young I was taught proper social etiquette - how to write a friendly letter, a thank you note, and how to speak to someone on the phone properly. It really is the same type of thing, just a different format.  Kids do need to learn how to use social media correctly.  I skype with my 6 year old nieces all the time.  I watch my sister teach them proper socialization skills, even via skype.  Yesterday I even got an e-mail with videos of one of my nieces who has been creating video tutorials.  I am amazed at how much they know how to do.  They are going into 1st grade and can almost do everything that I am teaching my 7th graders how to do in computers class.  If their teachers don't keep up on using technology in their classrooms, I worry that my nieces will become bored.

Teaching Toddlers to Tweet? Introducing Social Media to Elementary Students.