"A week without Facebook? Pennsylvania college tries it" by Kathy Matheson, Associated Press | September 17, 2010
HARRISBURG, Pa. —The bold experiment at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology — which has drawn praise, criticism, and even a jab on late-night TV — means students and staff can’t access Facebook, Twitter, or a host of other ubiquitous social networks while on campus.
Provost Eric Darr said the exercise that began Monday is not a punishment for the school’s 800 students, nor a precursor to a ban, but a way for people to think critically about the prevalence of social media.
The blackout comes on the heels of a report that Web users in the United States spend more time socializing on Facebook than searching with Google, according to data released last week from researchers at comScore Inc.
Still, Darr said he can’t believe the controversy generated in the Twitterverse, blogosphere, and academia, with some accusing the school of inflicting “a terrible thing and an infringement upon people’s rights.’’
Not here. I really couldn't give two craps.
“By and large, the students are supportive of the whole exercise and don’t get so worked up over it,’’ Darr said.
Who cares?
Student Ashley Harris, 22, said the blackout has freed her to concentrate on her classwork instead of toggling on her laptop between social networks and the lesson at hand....
Our kids are pathetic, aren't they?
Adam Ostrow, editor-in-chief of the social media news site Mashable.com, said he’d be interested to see if the university collects any hard metrics from the ban, such as better class attendance or more assignments turned in on time.
But he doesn’t think a blackout is feasible over the long term.
I will give you three gue$$e$ why.
Though Facebook has been blocked in some workplaces as a time-waster, it is a crucial tool for college students to coordinate social schedules, organize events, plan study sessions, and collaborate on assignments....
Big time.
Same as reading a newspaper.
--more--"
