"Growing Up Online"

In this documentary Frontline producers, Rachel Dretzin and John Maggio, investigated the reality behind teenagers interacting online. Various teens share their personal experiences within the “virtual world,” outside the reach of parental control. Many consider this technologic era as the greatest generation gap since the event of rock and roll. Teenagers consider interacting online to be an outlet for self expression and communication through social networking sites. Frontline producers found 90% of teens are online. These teenagers are constantly connected through socialization online, learning about life. Schools have had to step up the means of education, by using technology. Students are constantly engaged in technological media. Teachers have to be “entertainers” in order to grab the students attention. Many students pay less attention in class, which is thought to be caused by overexposure to the instantaneous interaction online. Teenagers are able to create a different persona online; they can be whoever they want to be. The internet creates another reality for anyone to access information by getting online. Privacy has become a thing of the past. Kids are not afraid to display their private lives online for all to see. Online predators are an issue parents are concerned with. Technology allows teens to act on impulse, which can be dangerous. Fortunately, studies show many teens know how to spot and ignore unwanted interaction. The kids that do encounter sexual solicitations are mild cases, 1/7 kids are affected. Danah Boyd, at Harvard University Berkman Center for Internet & Society believes, “Many teens who engage in risky behavior online, are engaging in much more risky behavior offline.” This proves that the teens that are already taking part in reckless activities continue to find dangerous outlets online; the internet isn’t necessarily to blame. Cyber bullying has become a problem. For many bullying victims, home was considered a safe haven before technology hit. Now, victims come home and are continuously bullied over the internet. John Halligan’s son Ryan was cyber bullied for months, which soon led to him committing suicide. "The computer and the Internet were not the cause of my son's suicide, but I believe they helped amplify and accelerate the hurt and the pain that he was trying to deal with that started in person, in the real world," John Halligan stated. Ryan did not have an escape, the cyber world created an instantaneous dangerous environment. Parry Aftab, executive director for WiredSafety.org, encourages the teaching of good cyber citizenship, just as we teach good manners in our society. By showing how to use technology responsibly, kids will be safe. Technology is here to stay. We must have a sense of control against the dangers. Danah Boyd suggests, “We teach ourselves and our children to live in a society where these properties are fundamentally a way of life.” This way we can safely control technology, accepting it as an inevitable part of our lives.

My life is enhanced socially through the internet. The internet allows me to stay in touch with my friends who I don’t get to interact with on a daily basis. This is my main motivation for using a social networking site. At times I find myself engulfed in the realm of Facebook. I become sucked in, addicted to the instantaneous communication. Once you enter the social networking site, you are up to date with what everyone is doing. You are in a whole other level of socialization that keeps you in contact with various people at the same time. I tend to limit my interaction online, otherwise I become too involved with what others are doing, and begin to lose sight on my own reality. The internet keeps me in contact with friends, no matter where they are located. I gain an enhanced social interaction.