Girls Rule the Web, Part 2

So, I had an interesting comment regarding my Girls Rule the Web post in which the question is raised:

“So, my question is, and I don’t think the article answered it, while young women are making a heck of a lot of “noise” is the proportion of quality content from them greater than, less than or the same as what the larger population is putting out?”

As I was pondering this, I read the following on DownloadSquad:

“Maybe the real question, then, is not whether the blogging/coding/podcasting girls of today will grow up to become software engineers, but to what kinds of interesting and innovative uses they will apply their skills in their chosen field. We’ll just have to wait and see, but my sans crystal ball prediction is that we won’t be disappointed.”

Not sure I have answers to either question but I do think it is important to remember that we’re talking about kids expressing themselves to each other, not some business venture or marketing model.

Are their contributions to the web adding something to the “noise?”  Maybe not.  But is it really the job of teenage girls to provide quality content to the general public.  Unless you really dig reading diaries of a 12-year-old (in which case seek help) than most of what they create online won’t mean much to you.  It isn’t meant for you, either.

Eduganda. Not a new country.

So, not sure where it was coined, but Eduganda is the term being used to describe Microsoft’s site they’ve set up to “teach” kids about copyright.  As the DowloadSquad points out:

“Oh yeah, and of course, there’s no mention of Creative Commons or other licenses that artists and content producers might employ to make their content freely available. And there’s no mention in the press release or on the web site about Fair Use exceptions for news, parody, and other purposes. ”

The site itself is just plain silly.  Not only does it feel like it is underestimating the intelligence and sophistication of today’s youth but it also fails to honestly discuss the issues.

Can’t say I’m surprised, though.