After view the Frontline Documentary, Growing Up Online, I wasn't surprised to see all of these young kids and teenagers whos lives surround the internet. The story that started the whole video documentary was of a young girl, Jessica Hunter, who used Myspace to create a new identity. She became Autumn Edows, a goth artist and model. She posted photos of herself that were very provocative wanting to fit in. She states, "I was only 14 but looked like I was 18", "I just became this whole different person."
I think that this says that we look to fit in. We want to be in the in crowd, to feel wanted. We are able to become this whole different person online if we want to. This is the part that parents are afraid of. Girls are hooked on this guy they met online thinking that he is there age when he is in reality a 35 year old man. We trust online. There are no rules online. A 14 year old boy was updating his myspace. The age limit on Myspace is 16. So you just change the year you were born and you're in. His younger brother was accepting a friend request on a gaming site without knowing who the stranger was. This is the part parents worry about.
We are too trusting online. We are also obsessed with the knowing that we can go online when ever we want. We can get to that online chat room to talk to our friends. We can see anybody's pictures online that they choose to post to their facebook or myspace pages. We are controlled by the internet. Although it isn't private we allow ourselves to vent to our friends through our updates or on our pages. Its how we connect but we don't allow ourselves to limit our time online because that is how our lives are controlled.
If i were doing a story on the impact of the internet and digital media on my own life i would probably write about fitting in, and how we use the internet as that source. I remember getting my myspace account in 7th grade, i wasn't the most popular kid, but on myspace i could be. I could post pictures of myself, just like Jessica Hunter did, and i could feel good about the comments i was getting on them. It wasn't until my parents found out that i realized how stupid it was to want to fit in at the price that i was paying. When were sitting at home, we automatically reach for the computer and pull up our pages. We need to know whats going on in everyones lives. We love to be a part of everybody's buisness. Recently a family from our church went through a terrible time with their daughter. As you read that line, i bet you were wondering what happened to her. Thats exactly what the internet does. We want to know, We have to know. And because of the internet, we are able to figure things out. The internet and digital media has had a huge impact on my life. On everyones life.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Jim on:Growing Up on Line
The Frontline PBS special, “Growing Up on Line” is an over all view on are children today, as the title suggest, growing up on line. As with any American informative show about children, it was full of concerns that a parent might have about what their child is doing. What the worst and best case scenarios could be surrounding this issue of children growing up with complete access to the internet.
The Show seems to cover all the bases, including ones that I would have never thought of. Dangerous chat lines for particular hang ups that an adolescent might have, predators and generally not being aware of what your child is doing.
I found the show very interesting and even moving at times, and although in today’s world the problems concerning are children seem big, I think them no bigger then they always have been. Each generation has something that the older generation is afraid of. It is my belief that we need not put blame on the internet for any problems that are children are facing today and maybe look at our society and what it may be lacking to cause our children to look elsewhere to be filled. As a parent it is solely up to me to be involved in my child’s life in a way that gives that child what they need, without going to a source that can not be totally trusted. It is up to me as a person of this society to do my best to make this true for all.
The Show seems to cover all the bases, including ones that I would have never thought of. Dangerous chat lines for particular hang ups that an adolescent might have, predators and generally not being aware of what your child is doing.
I found the show very interesting and even moving at times, and although in today’s world the problems concerning are children seem big, I think them no bigger then they always have been. Each generation has something that the older generation is afraid of. It is my belief that we need not put blame on the internet for any problems that are children are facing today and maybe look at our society and what it may be lacking to cause our children to look elsewhere to be filled. As a parent it is solely up to me to be involved in my child’s life in a way that gives that child what they need, without going to a source that can not be totally trusted. It is up to me as a person of this society to do my best to make this true for all.
Robert Brown-A New Wild West?
After viewing "Growing Up Online", a Frontline documentary, I was seriously provoked by the many issues concerning internet activity and its use in our learning institutions. One of the most emphasized concerns was the issue on CONTROL and the lack of it being exhibited through our teenage culture and the institutions responsible for guiding them into a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. Other issues such as addiction, morality, socialization, and parental control came into play, thanks to the manner in which this documentary was deliberately constructed. Rather than focus on more of the positive attributes of the internet, and its use, the creators of this documentary chose to capitalize on the negative, especially regarding social networking sites such as My Space, and Facebook. Thank God, for the breif reference to a girl who chooses to use these sites in a creative and constructive manner, otherwise I think I would of bailed out of completing the viewing of this documentary. As I was watching this documentary, I started to internalize the information to the days when I was growing up and in the process three things started to flow through my mind; two were songs that were popular in depicting social attitudes at the time and one was a movie called "Reefer Madness" of which I felt correlates to this depicted "Internet Madness" that was being displayed. The two song titles were "And the Beat Goes On" by Sony and Cher and the other song was "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone. I think that these songs would definitely sum up the social attitudes of todays youth in respect to their use of the internet and the theme of "rebellion" which has always been prevalent in every generation coming through our universe. Sometimes I wonder, if we should just "pull the plug", turn out the lights, and just fade back into the wilderness from whence this all began, just so that we could have more time to think about CONTROL!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
"Growing up Online" Meagan Cronin
In the video “Growing up Online” by Frontline, Dirs Rachel Dretzin and John Maggio with PBS it shows us how really technology is being used today. Things like cell phones, computers, smart boards, and pod casts are used in everyday life. Teachers at Chattum High School were saying how they wouldn’t want to teach their class without a smart board because it’s better to adapt to the students learning abilities. Many of the young people in the video were saying how they are able to be their own person online. This girl named Autumn Edows was describing how she was a nobody, a “goth” and many people would make fun of her and one day she started putting up sexy pictures and things like that and many people starting giving her more attention that she really liked. “ I looked 18 but I was really 14” (Edows) There are fears of child predators that are online searching for their next victim. Myspace and Facebook are a hot stop for people like that.
I would write about how Myspace and Facebook has kept me in contact with my family and my friends in Eastern Washington. I moved over to Bellingham and didn’t get to see my old friends like a wanted to, so I would talk to them on the computer, or text them during school. All of my other family members live in Standwood and Gig Harbor, so it is nice to see what their updates are to see what they are doing, or just to text them. The internet has also helped me with looking for a job. When you go to apply at most business they tell you to apply online, although I believe it defeats the whole purpose of going in a getting the application yourself everything is moving onto digital storage.
I would write about how Myspace and Facebook has kept me in contact with my family and my friends in Eastern Washington. I moved over to Bellingham and didn’t get to see my old friends like a wanted to, so I would talk to them on the computer, or text them during school. All of my other family members live in Standwood and Gig Harbor, so it is nice to see what their updates are to see what they are doing, or just to text them. The internet has also helped me with looking for a job. When you go to apply at most business they tell you to apply online, although I believe it defeats the whole purpose of going in a getting the application yourself everything is moving onto digital storage.
come on man- Bpalstatt
Growing up on line
Front line the national broadcast television show provide an inside view of having the internet as the new baby sitter. I shouldn’t be so one sided but that what I got from watching this program. The television show brought out the good side and the bad side of the new age of cyber technology. The internet generation is far more informed and knowledgeable then they’re given credit for. Still what the television show was expressing was that even with all of this so called street knowledge the pit falls are still there and as young adults you need more lived knowledge. Parents, schools and other need to understand how, when, and what this new per-pressure weapon is used. Please do get me wrong I know the vast amount that can be gain from the internet is incredible. But as see in the T.V. program Young adults, parents, schools and other need to talk and stop being afraid of the technology. Parents need to get involved with their kids understand and trust them. Parents know that kids are more independent, self reliant isn’t this the new family portrait. For me I understand parents will be parents what I see is parents are writing their own admission of their failure and sometime I think this drives the conflict with their children. I hope that more programs like this one are viewed by all.
Front line the national broadcast television show provide an inside view of having the internet as the new baby sitter. I shouldn’t be so one sided but that what I got from watching this program. The television show brought out the good side and the bad side of the new age of cyber technology. The internet generation is far more informed and knowledgeable then they’re given credit for. Still what the television show was expressing was that even with all of this so called street knowledge the pit falls are still there and as young adults you need more lived knowledge. Parents, schools and other need to understand how, when, and what this new per-pressure weapon is used. Please do get me wrong I know the vast amount that can be gain from the internet is incredible. But as see in the T.V. program Young adults, parents, schools and other need to talk and stop being afraid of the technology. Parents need to get involved with their kids understand and trust them. Parents know that kids are more independent, self reliant isn’t this the new family portrait. For me I understand parents will be parents what I see is parents are writing their own admission of their failure and sometime I think this drives the conflict with their children. I hope that more programs like this one are viewed by all.
PBS summary Taylor M
In PBS’s “Growing up online” produced by Rachel Dretzin and John Maggio they enter the online world of an American teenager. It took us through stories of several teens like cam whose mother constantly monitors his computer usage and is over bearing. Then there is Greg Bukuta who is constantly online and is dependent on it. Autumn Edows is a girl who uses the Internet to portray herself as a totally different person. Overall this talks about how our generation is emerged in technology. It also talked about a young boy who commited suicide because of online bullying and how it was helping people with eating disorders learn new tricks to stay thin.
I believe that the Internet has connected me to my family and friends, because I am constantly getting on and off the Internet, replying to emails and comments posted on my facebook. Sometimes it makes it easier to just email someone rather than talking to them on the phone, for the simple fact that I don’t always want to talk to them or dread that phone call from an acquaintance. Throughout the day I estimated that I average 4 emails a day and 8-9 comments to my friends. I don’t think that we realize how much the internet helps us connect.
"Growing Up Online" Summary - Darci Peterson
The PBS documentary, "Growing Up Online" discussed the internet being a part of life today. One could look at it as a pros and cons of the world wide web and modern technology, however it was more of a film of the ways the internet is affecting people, mainly focussing on teenagers, and how it can be accepted into society in a safe way. Clearly, it is not going to be going away, and it does not need to if people grow up with it and learn how to use it in a safe way and learn "Cyber manners". It is clear that the internet affects lives outside of the web so it is imporant to use the internet in a pro-active way.
There are no rules in the virtual society. Everything one could want to look for is there, it is just a matter of finding it. It has become so that the children once viewed as victums of cyper bullying and preditors have become participants. The internet is what you make it. For instance, f you are exposing yourself to strangers, you may find creeps. If teenagers are safe online they generally will not be bothered by unwanted people. Children are being taught at a young age that if they encounter something or someone on the internet they do not feel is safe or right, they can stop, block, and tell. Young kids are using the internet on social websites too, not just teenagers and adults. If they are not on myspace or facebok they are on Club Penguin. This means it is important for children to learn young how to react on the computer. A lot of parents are keeping their computer in a central area so it can be monitored. This is something I, as a parent, plan to do. I am still young, I see what people are doing and I know that it is something parents need to be involved with to a degree. It doesn't need to be on a personal level, just in general.
Teens seem to be the main users of internet because the internet is a great listener and it does not judge. One could be without their make up, in their pajamas or be up in the middle of the night and there is a whole social network that they can talk to. They can be who they want to be and even create new idenities. Teenagers find it comforting to talk to people without taling face to face, they say and talk to people they normally would not. They step outside their comfort zone in a way that makes them more comfortable. What teens do on the internet, the things they enjoy can be enjoyed if they learn ho to make their experience a positive one. Parents need to stay invold. Rather than having passwords they could have their own facebook account. They need to know what is out there to properly guide their children. It is what users make of it, which is evident could go either way. Teenagers believe that they are good at spotting red flags however there is room for improvement. Parents need to keep teaching children to stay away from certain dangers of the internet so ignorance does not get them in trouble as once was a big problem.
There are no rules in the virtual society. Everything one could want to look for is there, it is just a matter of finding it. It has become so that the children once viewed as victums of cyper bullying and preditors have become participants. The internet is what you make it. For instance, f you are exposing yourself to strangers, you may find creeps. If teenagers are safe online they generally will not be bothered by unwanted people. Children are being taught at a young age that if they encounter something or someone on the internet they do not feel is safe or right, they can stop, block, and tell. Young kids are using the internet on social websites too, not just teenagers and adults. If they are not on myspace or facebok they are on Club Penguin. This means it is important for children to learn young how to react on the computer. A lot of parents are keeping their computer in a central area so it can be monitored. This is something I, as a parent, plan to do. I am still young, I see what people are doing and I know that it is something parents need to be involved with to a degree. It doesn't need to be on a personal level, just in general.
Teens seem to be the main users of internet because the internet is a great listener and it does not judge. One could be without their make up, in their pajamas or be up in the middle of the night and there is a whole social network that they can talk to. They can be who they want to be and even create new idenities. Teenagers find it comforting to talk to people without taling face to face, they say and talk to people they normally would not. They step outside their comfort zone in a way that makes them more comfortable. What teens do on the internet, the things they enjoy can be enjoyed if they learn ho to make their experience a positive one. Parents need to stay invold. Rather than having passwords they could have their own facebook account. They need to know what is out there to properly guide their children. It is what users make of it, which is evident could go either way. Teenagers believe that they are good at spotting red flags however there is room for improvement. Parents need to keep teaching children to stay away from certain dangers of the internet so ignorance does not get them in trouble as once was a big problem.
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