Corporate & Securities Law

Social Networking and Academics

By John Wallbillich

So all you parents who think your children are wasting their time online, you may be right.

Researchers at “The” Ohio State University took a look at a potential link between Facebook use and academic performance:

Typically, Facebook users in the study had GPAs between 3.0 and 3.5, while non-users had GPAs between 3.5 and 4.0.

The study authors raise the obligatory note of caution:

?We can?t say that use of Facebook leads to lower grades and less studying ? but we did find a relationship there,? said Aryn Karpinski, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in education at Ohio State University.

I am sure Facebook and other denizens of Web 2.0 will take a closer look at these results and raise some logical or structural flaws with this study. It could be something unique to Buckeyes as well.

Maybe the students using Facebook as undergrads will get lower grades, and therefore pass on law school. And then they will be forced to go out in the world and make something, of themselves or otherwise.

And then they will become clients, get huge bills, and scrutinize them for any sign that esteemed counsel is using social networking sites on their dime.

Of course, I went to law school long before Facebook; even before computers. Most “social networking” was conducted face-to-face, not face-to-computer.

Full post as published by The Wired GC on April 14, 2009 (boomark / email).