Summary on Growing Up Online by Alexandria

The video text “Growing Up Online” was produced and directed by Dirs Rachel Dretzin and John Maggio on January 22, 2008. The video is a powerful description of how young people are greatly influenced and live their life in this alternate-reality world. The introduction starts off with how teens use this new technology to create a world where they can be whoever they want. The Internet is a main source for this new generation to create these different personas and express themselves without parental supervision. It allows young adolescents to connect with their peers and meet new people in the safety of their own home, or so most think. With the rise of Facebook and Myspace, which are social networking sites, many people have become addicted to this form of socializing and bonding, because it creates an environment where they feel less judged. The video goes on to say that not only has the Internet become the source our American culture uses for socializing it has also worked its way into the educational environment as well. Many classrooms today have computers and, in order for teachers to teach, they have to become entertainers. This may seem ridiculous to most, but with the rising media it has produced a generation that has a shorter attention span.
Although the Internet has some helpful assets that can be used in the educational environment, it has created a new problem that educators can’t ignore, the ability to go on the web and cheat. This has become very appealing to young people because of how easy it is. One student interview by Frontline states “that 8 out of 10 children use spark notes”. This is a site that helps students cheat by not having to read a required book.
My own view of growing up online is that it can be quite detrimental to our youth. It can cause issues with learning how to express yourself in person and make it hard for some to have relationships in the real world. For instance, my own boyfriend and siblings are constantly checking their Facebook for updates and are so consumed by this fake reality, that it often affects their other relationships or their drive to do other activities. There is also the risk of sexual predators and people that get involved with youth that lie about their true age. This has been the most disturbing issue that I come across on a day to day basis. I realized how easy it is for them to make identities where they say can say they are older than they are. I have never been able to understand the pull and infatuation some have with this new form of socializing, until I watched “Growing Up Online”. It shows what people want the most is acceptance and the ability to self express. Hopefully people can learn to do this off the Internet and not be so consumed by this technology.
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