As noted in a Slashdot comment to the article, “Is Social Network Fatigue Coming?“:

American culture is more mobile than ever. It’s normal go to high school in one city, go to college in another city, and get a job in a third city. And even if you don’t move around that much, some of your friends certainly will. It’s precisely these 18 - 25 year olds who use these sites. They are trying to find a kind of stability in their ever-changing world. If your entire circle of friends is cycled at least every 4 years, you may want to find a way to combat that social churn and get a more stable set of friends. A sense of permenance (sp) and community.

Put aside debates on what constitutes sound learning and pedagogical practices, this statement captures exactly why the up-and-coming-generation of adult learners, even those looking to “check the degree box” for their resume, will need more than the “learning management system” offered by the likes of Blackboard, eCollege, and the rest.

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