Living WITH Technology Vs. Living IN technology

I think that introducing technology for learning purposes is a great way to build on the experiences of the new generation of students that we are faced with these days. Many elementary and secondary age children are already computer savvy and use the internet as a source of entertainment and a venue for academic research.
As stated in chapter three of the textbook "Rethinking Technology in schools" websites like YouTube, SchoolTube and blog sites allow students the opportunity to interact with each other while learning. Although these sites do support the idea of a 'Cybercitizen' (a person who is actively involved in online communities and uses the internet to engage in activities that are socially and/or politically responsible) there is also a danger of these types of communication being taken too far.
A good example of this would be applications like Second Life. When people start creating Avatars and participating in virtual communities there is a sense of self that is lost. There is a difference between using technology as a tool and re-creating yourself through technology. People may loose touch with reality and and become less responsible or accountable for their own actions. The goal of technology is to improve and facilitate life not replace it.