Howard Rheingold on "Crap Detection"

Determining credibility of information on the internet and internet safety has always been a concern and will continue to be so. Can we or should we even try to control and monitor what is going on the internet? It would seem an impossible task. Rheingold suggests that instead we need to learn how to filter the information. He puts the responsibility on the user not the publisher. I agree with him in that we should be spending time teaching people to be critical consumers of the internet or as he puts it crap detectors. Developing literacy skills on internet use and teaching students what questions to ask, and how to search for credible information is going to be a lifelong skill not only for internet use but for everyday real life whether at school or later on in the work force. He backs up his ideas by giving examples of tools to enable people to find credible knowledge and to create a network of trusted people in a particular field. The impact of reading and following poor or wrong information can be catastrophic. Rheingold's blog is a good place to find ideas on how to start creating a network with filters and a good site to bookmark because of the many tools listed. Personally, I will take his advice on ways to protect myself from the web garbage.