The Importance of Tacit Knowledge in Learning and Expertise, and the Changing Landscape of Social Media for Teens in 2022

The Importance of Tacit Knowledge in Learning and Expertise, and the Changing Landscape of Social Media for Teens in 2022

In today's fast-paced world, the acquisition of knowledge and expertise is more important than ever. However, there is a type of knowledge that cannot be captured through words alone - tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is the knowledge that is gained through experience, emulation, and action. It is the embodied feeling necessary to successfully perform a task, such as riding a bicycle. In his book "The Knowledge-Creating Company," Ikujiro Nonaka explains that tacit knowledge is learned through imitation, emulation, and apprenticeship. By copying what a master does, blindly, we internalize the principles behind the actions.

When it comes to complicated judgment and instantaneous decision-making, tacit knowledge is invaluable. It is the ability to balance dozens of considerations against each other and make the right decision in an instant. This type of knowledge is almost impossible to learn through explanation alone. If someone is explaining something with a long list of caveats, chances are they are demonstrating tacit knowledge in action. It is the ability to make quick and accurate judgments that is truly valuable to learn.

In the past, there was a fad of trying to encode all the knowledge of an expert into an expert system. However, researchers soon realized that it was extremely difficult to capture all the nuances and branches of knowledge from a human expert. Simply giving people a list of procedures to execute denies them the ability to build expertise and prevents them from engaging in creative problem-solving. This is why believing in the existence of tacit knowledge is crucial for effective learning and expertise development.

Instead of waiting for some breakthrough to make tacit knowledge explicit, we should act as if tacit knowledge is a fact and focus on finding ways to gain that knowledge directly. This is where the field of Naturalistic Decision Making (NDM) comes into play. NDM is a field that focuses on making the process of learning tacit knowledge more effective. By studying methods and approaches that emphasize tacit knowledge, we can uncover new and overlooked ways to enhance our expertise.

Now, let's shift gears and explore the changing landscape of social media for teens in 2022. According to recent research, YouTube has emerged as the top media platform for teens, with a whopping 95% of teens using it. This is a significant shift from previous years, where platforms like Facebook dominated the teen social media scene. In fact, the use of Facebook among teens has declined from 71% in 2014-15 to just 32% today.

Other platforms like Twitter and Tumblr have also seen declining usage among teens. It is worth noting that some platforms that were popular in the past, such as Vine and Google+, no longer exist. Teen boys are more likely to use platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Reddit, while teen girls are more likely to use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Interestingly, a majority of U.S. teens believe they spend the right amount of time on social media, with 55% stating that they are content with their usage. However, 36% of teens feel that they spend too much time on these platforms. This highlights the need for responsible and balanced social media usage among teens.

In conclusion, the importance of tacit knowledge cannot be overstated when it comes to learning and expertise. It is the knowledge gained through experience, emulation, and action that allows us to make quick and accurate judgments. Instead of relying solely on explicit knowledge and procedures, we should focus on ways to gain tacit knowledge directly. This is where NDM methods and approaches come into play.

On a different note, the social media landscape for teens is constantly evolving. YouTube has emerged as the top platform, while others like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr have seen declining usage. It is important for teens to maintain a healthy balance when it comes to social media usage and be mindful of their time spent online.

In light of these insights, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace tacit knowledge: Instead of solely relying on explicit instructions, seek out opportunities for emulation, apprenticeship, and hands-on experience. By immersing yourself in the practical aspects of a skill or field, you can gain valuable tacit knowledge that will enhance your expertise.

2. Stay informed about NDM methods: Keep an eye out for developments in the field of Naturalistic Decision Making. Explore ways to make the process of learning tacit knowledge more effective and efficient. By staying informed, you can uncover new approaches to enhance your learning and decision-making abilities.

3. Practice responsible social media usage: If you're a teen or a parent of a teen, it's important to maintain a healthy balance when it comes to social media usage. Be mindful of the time spent on these platforms and ensure that it does not interfere with other aspects of life, such as school, relationships, and personal well-being.

In conclusion, the acquisition of tacit knowledge is crucial for learning and expertise development. It is the knowledge gained through emulation, apprenticeship, and action that allows us to make quick and accurate judgments. Additionally, the social media landscape for teens is continuously evolving, with platforms like YouTube gaining dominance. It is essential for teens to practice responsible social media usage and maintain a healthy balance in their online activities. By embracing these insights and taking actionable steps, we can enhance our learning, decision-making abilities, and overall well-being in the digital age.