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Study Finds Teens Learn While Social Networking

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Nov 20, 2008 5:34 pm US/Eastern

Study Finds Teens Learn While Social Networking

Reporting
Dray Clark

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Facebook has been rapidly catching up to MySpace as the premier social networking Web site. Founded by Harvard dropout Mark Zuckerberg, 22, the site is responsible for 1 percent of all Internet traffic and is the sixth most visited site in the U.S. as of J
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For many teenagers, the internet is a dominant domain in their social lives. Social Web sites like Facebook allows teens to keep a connection with friends and come up with creative ways to tell people about themselves.

"I just waste my time on Facebook and you know you can talk to friends," said Kevin Lovine.

But is it really a waste of time or an endeavor in education?

A new study from the MacArthur Foundation says the internet allows teenagers to learn social and technical skills they need to compete in life.

"Kids these days are growing up inside the digital world," says Frank Farley, Temple University Professor.

The study involves 800 students and parents along with endless hours of observation over a three year period. Researchers concluded the internet must play an integral part in a teen's education and maturation.

"This study focuses on the positive side and there is this very positive side," says Farley.

Farley adds parents should have a cyber sit down with their kids to make sure they're balancing their online time and know how to spot cyber bullies and internet predators.