On Monday, November 14, 2011, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and The Tyler Clementi Foundation are co-sponsoring a one-day symposium on social networking, Identity, Connectedness, and Threat in Social Networks: Adolescent and Young Adult Use and Misuse of New Media. The symposium features presentations and panel discussions led by Rutgers faculty from the School of Communication and Information, the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, the Graduate School of Education, and the School of Social Work, as well as invited guests with particular expertise in social media. Topics to be addressed include the positive and negative outcomes of social media interactions among young people, influences that affect the misuse of social networking sites, the emerging roles of school officials in preventing and addressing cyber-bullying and other harmful student communications, the identification of resources and strategies to prevent and respond to abusive online behavior, and current legal issues related to internet speech.

The symposium is being held at Rutgers University’s Busch Campus Center in Piscataway, NJ from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A preliminary symposium agenda and registration form are attached.  Symposium attendance is free, but those wishing to attend are asked to register in advance, as space is limited. Kindly submit your registration form as soon as possible, but no later than November 7, 2011, to Jude McLane at mclane@oldqueens.rutgers.edu or by fax to 732-932-1956.

We look forward to your participation in this timely exploration of these important issues related to the increasing use and misuse of new social media among young people. 

Sincerely,

Jorge Schement, Ph.D.

Dean, School of Communication and Information, and

Chair, Symposium Planning Committee