Boyd discusses the differences between mediated and none-mediated publics, specifically networked publics in terms of mediated. Mediated publics are facilitated by various media, including news, television, radio, and other forms of mass media communication. The public is mediated through these forms, bringing information to a broader audience that cannot be defined in terms of the physical. Networked publics in specific are mediated through technology networks, including mobile phones, blogs, internet based group sites, etc. These forms of mediation in particular are explored, in terms of how their spread and audience differed from an unmediated public.
The networked public is specifically relevant when looking at youth. As a group, a public or an audience, these networked publics are the main publics within which youth interact or act as audience. This is the space where students exchange, experience and witness. Being aware of their interactions in this space, exploring the inner workings of the mechanism of networked publics can provide insight into the lives and interests of students. As educators, it is also a responsibility of ours to examine the communities where our students engage and how they go about doing so. The article mentions that engaging in networks can lead to expressions being misinterpreted, especially for new comers. In these spaces where youth play audience and actor, they put versions and views of themselves into that public, knowingly or not. Connections and impressions are made, and these impacts have an effect, varyingly, on the lives and development of students as people and as members of society. Doesn't it make sense then that educators should help students learn how to make informed interpretations and decisions about what they witness and express within these publics? It relates back to the other article on new media literacies. This is where students are, where they will need to use certain skills and will absorb and be susceptible to impressions, information. This is where learning should also take place, where student involvement and interaction should be addressed, where the new skills for the future of society will be birthed.
In relation to this idea of networking publics and how audience, witnessing and potentially learning can be spread is this video from T.E.D.
the video doesn't seem to want to embed, so here's the link
http://www.ted.com/talks/chris_anderson_how_web_video_powers_global_innovation.html
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